5 Bizarre Dental Traditions & Trends Around the Globe
Dentistry has been around for centuries. It’s a respected profession with a long and illustrious history. That said, it has also seen its fair share of bizarre—and spooky—dental trends. As the practice of repairing, restoring, and enhancing teeth evolved, it spawned a range of unique and colorful dental traditions and curiosities.
Today, we value our teeth for both practical and esthetic reasons. However, teeth also have profound cultural significance in terms of health, status, and beauty throughout history. Although the current forms of dental restoration and tooth adornment might seem shocking, unnatural, and even comical, it’s really nothing new.
Humans have been fascinated by all things weird for millennia! For instance, the Mayans—one of the first civilizations to flourish in Central America—used to practice teeth filing. The results varied from squared-off to filed-down to very small teeth. They also underwent strange dental procedures for religious purposes.
Peculiar yet widely followed dental traditions persist across the globe, even today. These practices range from blackening the teeth to dressing them up with “grills.” The latter is an extravagant fashion statement where gold, silver, and other precious metals are shaped to cover a person’s teeth.
In 2022, we’re still just as fascinated by unusual dental traditions and the many peculiarities that are catching our eye. Here are some of our favorite weird, wacky, and simply off-the-wall dental trends from around the globe.
Faux Brace
Faux braces—also called false braces—are now a dental must-have among teens. Like genuine orthodontic braces, the faux braces also use brackets and pieces of wire. But that’s where the similarity ends, as they are entirely lacking in any practical function.
Teens in some countries believe that getting braces is as cool as getting an edgy haircut or a tattoo. And because real braces can cost up to thousands of dollars, with Lingual braces being the most expensive ($5,000–$13,000), faux braces have become a status symbol.
Faux braces cost less than $100. Granted, the price difference is huge. However, the price you pay for using them is even bigger. In fact, wearing faux braces comes with a number of health risks. For example, poisoning from toxic materials, choking, inflammation and infection of the gum, tooth decay and discoloration, and the improper shifting of teeth.
These problems arise for all the obvious reasons. Fake braces are made from substandard materials, they’re not specifically designed for an individual’s teeth, and they are not fitted by a licensed orthodontist. Though cheap now, faux braces will definitely cost a lot in future dental restoration. As dental traditions go, this is definitely one to be avoided!
Vampire Fangs
Our fascination with vampires began with Bram Stoker's classic 1897 novel, Dracula, followed in the 1920s by the iconic horror film, Nosferatu. Today, vampire fangs are part of popular culture, and an essential ingredient in many a spooky Halloween costume. Even famous celebrities like Kourtney Kardashian and Bebe Rexha have worn these fake fangs. Admittedly, they are one of the more common dental traditions. But what’s the big deal?
First, they’re a symbol of youth. Second, fangs can be sexy. And third, they look deliciously dark and gothic. So, if you want to look sexy, youthful, or vampish, grab yourself some vampire fangs. The longer, the better!
This trend might seem like fun, but it’s not a favorite among dentists. That’s because the fangs are usually glued to the teeth with nail glue, which can be poisonous if swallowed. Plus, removing the glue from the teeth can be problematic, even resulting in tooth damage.
LED Teeth
An LED mouth guard gives you the power to literally light up the room! The Japanese craze of “Yeaba" (meaning “double tooth”) is stylish and fun for teens. As an accessory, it’s definitely become one of our most bizarre dental traditions.
The LED teeth work when you smile. The wearer can change the color of the insert; for instance, from a jolly red to bright green. And while most LED teeth are a temporary accessory, they can also be made permanent.
The LED trend was hyped up by advertising, typically in malls. After all, it’s new, fun, and tech. So people believe that it’s a definite must-try.
Rainbow Teeth and Tooth Paint
Humans have colored their teeth since time immemorial. Blackening the teeth is one of those peculiar dental traditions. As odd as it may seem, people loved it!
Another up-and-coming dental trend is rainbow teeth. From being club-appropriate to a fashion statement in the workplace or everyday life, rainbow teeth and tooth paint set the wearer apart.
Rainbow teeth are simple to create. A paint formula that can last up to 24 hours is applied to the teeth. It’s a good makeup staple for costume parties, Halloweens, and clubbing because it’s guaranteed to capture people’s attention. This nail polish-like paint is also smudge-proof, so it will stay on even after chewing a meal or drinking. The downside is potential discoloration of the teeth.
Tooth Gems
Tooth gems are an offshoot of grills, which were popularized by rappers in the '90s. Surprisingly, this trend is resurfacing as one of the hottest looks of 2022.
Precious stones or metals like gold, jade, or turquoise are placed on the teeth. Here, they add that element of bling to the wearer’s smile. The jewels are firmly bonded to the tooth using a type of acid. They’re minimally invasive and relatively easy to apply. Even top celebs like Hailey Bieber, Katy Perry, and Bella Hadid are raving about them. However, they can still cause complications and may result in tooth discoloration.
Sterngold’s Dental Traditions and Solutions
Jumping on the bandwagon with one of these bizarre but trendy dental traditions might seem like fun. Do remember though that they are potentially dangerous and can cause long-lasting damage. If you’ve already tried one of them and are suffering in the aftermath, consulting a dentist will help with the restorative process.
With Sterngold Dental products, your dentist can help can restore your pearly whites. Sterngold provides both dentists and lab technicians with a range of restorative dentistry products, ranging from dental implants, impression materials, teeth shade for crowns, all the way to digital dentures.