Don't Compromise Your Dental Health for Fashion

If you remember the days when a mouth full of metal was a source of embarrassment, the latest fashion trend may surprise you. Faux braces in a wide variety of colors, shapes and styles are showing up in mouths everywhere, but following this fad can have serious consequences on your dental health. Learn why it's best to steer clear of this tooth trend.

Why Are People Getting Faux Braces?

The trend of expressing your style on your teeth began long ago with crowns made of gold or silver. In recent years, embellishments like grills, tooth gems and tooth piercings became popular. The latest way to draw attention to your smile is fashion braces that can be applied at home, but these DIY kits pose many risks to the wearer.

Uncontrolled Movements Damage Teeth and Gums

The uncontrolled movements that come from getting a metal mouth without the assistance of a dental professional can cause your teeth to become loose, while the brackets themselves can crack or chip your teeth. You may also experience cavities, gum recession or gingivitis from these fashionable dental appliances because they impede brushing and flossing.

Unsafe Materials Harm Your Health

The materials used in fashion wires and brackets are often made cheaply and not approved for medical use. They contain problematic ingredients like heavy metals and poisonous chemicals that shouldn't go in your mouth. Prolonged use can lead to acute poisoning and long-term problems like cancer and organ damage. The most frightening part is that you may not know the extent of the damage for many years.

Loose Brackets and Wires Pose Serious Hazards

Did you know that fashion braces can land you in the emergency room? The glue used for these faux appliances is not medical grade and may not hold well enough to keep the brackets attached to your teeth. This can lead to choking on the brackets or severe cuts and puncture wounds from loose wires.

Unsanitary Materials Lead to Infections

Because fashion braces are neither produced nor installed in a sanitary environment, they can harbor dangerous bacteria. When unclean brackets and wires scrape or cut your mouth, these bacteria proliferate into infections. Bacteria can even enter your bloodstream, which leads to a life-threatening condition called sepsis. No matter how much you want to express your personal style, fashion isn't worth a lifetime of health problems.

What Are Some Safe Ways to Embellish Teeth?

If you want to show your style on your pearly whites without compromising your dental health, visit a cosmetic dentist to explore your options. You can have your teeth straightened with fashionable designer brackets or invisible aligners, professionally and safety whitened or covered with veneers. Some cosmetic dentists provide other embellishments for your teeth like tooth tattoos, tooth gems and precious metal crowns.