Tattoos and Tooth Gems and Toes

On a work trip I had taken earlier this year I had the experience of a lifetime. Working as a social media correspondent for a company selling tattooing equipment meant traveling to conventions was part of the gig. We had traveled to the Nashville Tattoo Convention hosted by Villain Arts to sell equipment, gain brand awareness and collect some exclusive content.

While at the convention on a slow sale day, I walked around to view what the other vendors at the convention had to offer. The numerous stations were filled with artists tattooing, piercing booths and even an insect taxidermist. While almost everything and everyone was covered in the color black, the sight was incredibly visually stimulating. As someone with no tattoos, un-dyed hair, and minimal piercings, it was a look into a different world. Perhaps not my ideal world, but one I'd like to take with me on my journey to my ideal space.

I stopped by a particularly eye catching booth, where I met Kim, the awesome woman behind New Orleans Tooth Gems. She had trays of sparkles and tiny gold icons labeled "Tooth Gems". These crystals and assorted flat charms are adhered to your teeth to create temporary sparkle in your grin. Once she explained the concept to me, I knew this was the perfect way for me to dip my toe into the body modification community.

The Install Process

The entire process took about ten minutes and was entirely painless. NOTG says the procedure is similar to placing an orthodontic bracket (braces) on a tooth. There is no drilling involved. First, we had a brief discussion of placement. I ended up choosing my left canine- a popular tooth to have the gems installed according to their instagram.

Kim then uses a tool to keep my mouth wide open throughout the process. She wipes my tooth to ensure the surface is clean and dry-- this will ensure the adhesive sticks easily. After the area was prepped, she applies a small amount of adhesive to my tooth, and uses a light to cure it (she previously had me put on special glasses so my eyes were unharmed by the light).

After a minute or a few (I was so excited I had forgotten about the time- that moment could've been three seconds or three minutes) she adds the crystal I had chosen. A pink Swarovski crystal in the smallest size Kim had. Then, Kim perfects her crystal/adhesive placement and goes in for a final light to ensure the crystal stays put.

I fell in love with my new tooth gem. It was such a small detail that completely changed my look and the way I carry myself. It's not so easily visible 100% of the time but in a way it feels as though its more of a personal adornment.

Kind of like having a beauty mark somewhere most people can't see, but you know it's there. Like the beauty mark on the inside of my left big toe, for example. Only to be seen by the waves hitting my bare feet. Okay, that's enough feet talk.

Its been almost three months since my tooth gem was installed, and I absolutely love it! It's stayed sturdy throughout countless meals and brushing. I've met other cute sparkly grins along the way and surprised anyone I smiled at. As someone who's had a gum smile their entire life, I didn't realize what a difference it makes to like your teeth. To want to smile as big as you can, because no amount of gum will outshine the Swarovski on my canine.