Are Tooth Gems Safe? Things to Consider

Tooth gems are a fun, unique way to express your style and enhance your appearance. With hundreds of styles, shapes, materials, and colors available, you can add a little something special to your teeth and feel more confident in how you look.

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But are tooth gems safe? The short answer is “yes,” but only if you see a dentist. Tooth gems placed by dental professionals like Dr. Hamlin and her squad at Cusp Dental Boutique are 100% safe and are unlikely to cause any serious issues with your smile. But the dangers of DIY tooth gems or tooth gems from beauty parlors, piercing shops, or tattoo shops are very real. Read on to learn everything you need to know about tooth gem safety.

What Are Tooth Gems, And How Do They Work?

Tooth gems are small, decorative pieces of metal or crystal that are semi-permanently placed onto your teeth, usually by a dentist. They're available in lots of different styles, colors, and shapes.

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At Cusp Dental Boutique, Dr. Zaneta Hamlin has been placing tooth gems for years, and we have a catalog of common styles to choose from.  Whether you want a couple of simple, transparent crystal tooth gems or bolder styles and shapes like stars or crosses, you can find something that’s right for you at our office. 

Are Tooth Gems Safe? Yes – But Only From A Dentist!

So, the big question. Are tooth gems safe? The answer is “yes.” As long as you get them from a qualified dental professional like Dr. Hamlin, tooth gems are 100% safe. Dentists know how to safely apply tooth gems and where to place them so that they do not irritate your mouth.

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Dentists can also give you instructions on how to care for your teeth. Because they sit on top of your natural enamel, tooth gems can collect food particles, bacteria, and acid, which can raise your risk of tooth decay if you don’t maintain good oral hygiene.

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Dr. Hamlin and other tooth gem dentists also use dental-grade materials that are free of common toxins, allergens, and other potentially dangerous materials. This dramatically reduces the risk of irritation and complications.

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But what about getting tooth gems from a beauty salon, a tattoo parlor, a piercing shop, or even using a DIY kit to add some bling to your pearly whites? In that case, the answer isn’t so simple. Getting tooth gems from someone who’s not a dentist or trying to apply them yourself can be dangerous.

DIY Kits And Beauty Salon Tooth Gems Can Be Dangerous

Wondering what the risks of tooth gems are if you don’t see a dentist and choose a DIY kit or get tooth gems from someone who isn’t a dental professional? Here’s a look at just a few of the risks of improper tooth gem application. 

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• Tooth or soft tissue damage –  Tooth damage from gems that are improperly placed is a super common issue. As part of the process of preparing for tooth gems, a liquid is typically applied to “etch” your enamel. This is safe if done by a dentist, but if it’s done by someone who’s untrained, this could cause permanent damage to your teeth. This liquid could also damage your tongue, lips, or cheeks if it’s applied improperly.
  
  
• Dangerous materials – If you choose a DIY kit or get tooth gems from someone who isn’t a dentist, there’s no guarantee that the materials that are being used are safe. The glue or adhesive could be toxic if swallowed or inhaled, or the gem itself could even contain toxic materials like lead in some cases.

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• Irritation and allergic reactions – Because you don’t know exactly what materials are being used for the adhesive and the tooth gem, there’s a higher risk of irritation and allergic reactions from certain metals like nickel.
  
  
• Swallowing or inhalation – This is the most dangerous part of getting a tooth gem from someone who isn’t a dental professional. If it’s not tightly bonded to your tooth, you could swallow it or even inhale it. If you inhale a tooth gem and it gets stuck in your airway or lungs, you may need emergency surgery to get it out.
  
  
• Gum irritation and recession – Proper placement of tooth gems is critical for your oral health. If you get a tooth gem too close to your gums, it could irritate them and cause inflammation. In the long run, this can even cause gum recession. There is also a risk of bonding teeth together, which makes flossing impossible or very difficult, which in turn will lead to gingivitis and eventually periodontitis

How To Protect Your Smile While You Get Tooth Gems

If you’re thinking about getting tooth gems in Virginia Beach, VA, you may be wondering how you can enhance your grin without compromising your oral health. It’s easy! Just follow these simple tooth gem safety tips.

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• Choose a qualified dentist – Don’t try to use a DIY tooth gem kit, and don’t go to a tattoo parlor, beauty salon, or any other store. You should only trust your teeth to a dental professional, so make sure you choose a qualified dentist who has years of experience placing tooth gems safely.

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• Don’t go overboard with too many gems – Especially at first, it’s a good idea to only get a few tooth gems. Your dentist can keep an eye on your oral health, make sure your mouth isn’t reacting to the tooth gems, and make sure you’re not raising your risk of cavities or other oral health. Then, if everything looks good, you can consider adding more bling to your smile!
  
  
• Listen to your dentist’s care instructions – You’ll need to take special care while brushing your teeth that have tooth gems. Spending a little more time brushing around them to remove food particles, acid, and bacteria will ensure that you reduce your risk of cavities.
  
  
• Get routine dental checkups, too – Whether or not you have tooth gems, you should see a dentist for a checkup every six months. But this is particularly important if you have tooth gems. During your checkup, your dentist can check to make sure the gem is in great shape, isn’t loose, and isn’t causing any issues with your oral health.

Busting Common Myths About About Getting Tooth Gems

Anyone can apply tooth gems, it’s easy!

It’s not. Only a professional dentist should apply tooth gems. You can’t safely apply tooth gems on your own with a DIY kit. Employees at beauty shops, spas, tattoo parlors, and piercing shops also are not necessarily qualified to apply tooth gems, and may not be able to apply them to your teeth safely. You should only trust your teeth to a dentist.

I can remove my tooth gems on my own!

This is absolutely not true, especially for professionally-applied tooth gems. Dentists like Dr. Hamlin use very powerful dental cement to attach tooth gems. This ensures that they last a long time, but also makes them very difficult to remove on your own. Attempting to remove a tooth gem on your own may cause permanent damage to your tooth. Incomplete removal of the bonding material can lead to decay and discoloration.

If a DIY tooth gem kit is FDA-approved, it must be safe!

This is not necessarily true. Some DIY tooth gem kits advertise that they're FDA-approved and are safe for home use. However, these kits could still damage your teeth if you overuse them or apply tooth gems to your teeth improperly.

Answering Your FAQs About Tooth Gems

• Are tooth gems bad for your teeth? Not necessarily. When applied by a dentist like Dr. Hamlin, tooth gems are totally safe. We use high-quality, dental-grade materials for tooth gems at Cusp Dental Boutique.

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• Can tooth gems cause cavities or damage? Yes. DIY tooth gems or tooth gems applied by untrained workers at a beauty spa or similar location can cause damage to your teeth. Tooth gems can also increase your risk of cavities unless you take good care of your teeth.

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• Are DIY tooth gems safe? Not at all. DIY kits do not use dental-grade materials. They can cause tooth damage if used incorrectly. In some cases, tooth gems from DIY kits could even fall out, and you may swallow or inhale them.

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• How long do tooth gems last? Professionally-applied tooth gems usually last between 6-12 months. 
• What should I do if a gem falls off? If your tooth gem from Cusp Dental Boutique falls off, put it in a plastic baggie. Then, give us a call so that Dr. Hamlin can clean your tooth surface and reattach it to your tooth. Or, you can throw away your old tooth gem and use this as an opportunity to try a new style at Cusp Dental Boutique!

Visit Cusp Dental Boutique For Safe, Long-Lasting Tooth Gems

Tooth gems are a fun way to express yourself and refresh your look. But unless you get them from a dental professional like Dr. Zaneta Hamlin, you could be putting your smile at risk. So instead of choosing a DIY kit or getting tooth gems at a beauty salon, come to Cusp Dental Boutique. 

Safe tooth gems are our specialty, and we offer a huge variety of sizes, colors, and styles. And when you get tooth gems from Dr. Hamlin, you’ll be able to protect your oral health and maximize the lifespan of your new tooth bling. Give us a call at (757) 904-4347 or contact us online to book your first visit and explore your options for professional tooth gem placement in Virginia Beach, VA.