Some people believe that the latest iteration of the trend is just another way for white people to appropriate Black culture. "Tooth embellishments most likely indicated wealth ," archaeologist Marshall Becker, professor emeritus of anthropology at West Chester University, told POPSUGAR. Archaeological excavations in the ancient Mayan ruins of Tikal have found that elaborate dental work (like teeth gems) often indicated that the person held a high position in society. Identified as a practice in ancient Mayan civilization, teeth embellishments were used as indicators of wealth and status in a society. This is exactly the case with tooth gems, because while they may be touted as a fun way to spice up a look, the act of embellishing teeth has deep historical roots. Yet, with the overwhelming media attention on trends that re-emerge back into popular culture, it can be easy to overlook where they originate from. Numerous teens have documented the process of getting gems applied across social media apps like TikTok, while others even shared how to achieve the look at home - prompting professionals to explain why DIY-ing the trend is dangerous. Now, the trend is making a comeback as Gen-Z puts their own spin on it. Popularized in the '90s, teeth were often decorated using "rhinestones, crystals, and, in some cases, diamonds," cosmetic dentist Sharon Huang, DDS, MICOI, told POPSUGAR. In the recently released Pinterest Predicts 2022 report, Pinterest states that searches for "tooth gems" have increased 85 percent year over year, but the act of embellishing teeth is not a new phenomenon.
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