Tooth gems have been having a moment in celebrity culture. Scroll through enough red carpet photos or Instagram posts and you will catch glimpses of sparkle on some high-profile smiles. What used to be primarily associated with hip-hop culture in the 1990s and early 2000s has crossed over into mainstream fashion, with A-listers across multiple industries embracing the trend and making it feel less niche.
Hailey Bieber
Hailey Bieber brought tooth gems back into the spotlight around 2019-2020 when she started sporting a small crystal on her canine. Suddenly what had been a relatively underground beauty trend became something fashion magazines were writing about. Her approach has typically been subtle (a small clear crystal, sometimes paired with a gold star charm on a different tooth) but still noticeable enough to spark conversations and inspire copycats across social media.
The model's version of the trend felt accessible in a way that some celebrity beauty choices do not. It was not wildly expensive or requiring surgery, just a small sparkly addition that elevated her already polished aesthetic. She wears it casually, not making a huge statement, which somehow makes it feel more aspirational: like something you could actually get yourself rather than just admire from afar.
Katy Perry
Katy Perry has been photographed with tooth gems multiple times over the years, often going for more colourful options that match her generally bold aesthetic. She is not afraid to experiment with different placements and shapes, with butterfly and heart designs in Aurora Borealis shades appearing in her sparkle repertoire. When someone is known for wearing cupcake bras and has had blue hair, a sparkly tooth gem barely registers as adventurous.
Her choices tend to coordinate with whatever era or aesthetic she is working with at the moment. The gems become part of a larger visual statement rather than just a standalone accessory. She has treated them almost like temporary fashion rather than a long-term beauty commitment, swapping them out or removing them depending on what she is doing.
Drake
Drake has experimented with tooth gems alongside his various other dental modifications. He has had diamond-encrusted dental work at different points, so gems feel almost understated in comparison. For him it is part of a larger approach to jewellery and personal branding that includes pretty much every surface of his body, from chains to rings to watches.
The tooth gems fit into his whole aesthetic of elevated luxury and attention to detail. Even his dental choices are curated and expensive. It is very much in line with hip-hop's long tradition of dental decoration, just evolved into a more refined, less permanent version than the full grillz of earlier decades.
Rosalía
Spanish pop star Rosalía has made tooth gems part of her signature look, often photographed with Swarovski crystal butterflies arranged across her front teeth. She frequently practices "stacking": multiple tooth gems aligned across several adjacent teeth, creating a constellation effect that mixes crystals of different sizes for a spectacular visual impact.
Her commitment to the trend has been notable enough that fashion media regularly references it as a defining element of her image. The Swarovski crystal butterflies have appeared on album covers, in music videos and across red carpet appearances, making her one of the most visually distinctive celebrity adopters of the trend.
Adwoa Aboah
British model and activist Adwoa Aboah has sported tooth gems across various fashion campaigns and personal appearances. Her gold tooth gem became part of her signature look around 2017, appearing in the Marc Jacobs Beauty campaign and on the cover of i-D magazine with a crystal-studded Chanel logo design. As a model and activist known for pushing beauty boundaries, the tooth gem fits her rebellious but still polished vibe.
She has been vocal about beauty standards and self-expression, and the tooth gem feels like part of that conversation. It is a way of decorating yourself that is temporary and playful but still makes a statement. The fashion industry has generally been receptive to her version of the trend since it photographs beautifully and adds visual interest in close-up shots.
Bella Hadid
Bella Hadid has joined the tooth gem club at various points, including a notable Paris appearance with a small diamond attached to her front left canine. Her approach has typically been understated, letting the gem be a subtle detail rather than the main event. The model set has generally been receptive to the trend since it photographs well and adds visual interest in editorial shoots without being as permanent as other body modifications.
Models have an interesting relationship with beauty trends because their faces are literally their work. They need to be able to shift aesthetics relatively easily depending on the job. Tooth gems work well for that since they are removable: you can have the edgy sparkle for off-duty Instagram content but take it out for a more classic beauty campaign if needed.
Iris Law
British model Iris Law has been at the forefront of the recent tooth gem revival, appearing in selfies with diamante-encrusted smiles alongside Hailey Bieber and Bella Hadid as part of the Gen Z It-girl set leading the trend. Her approach typically blends edgy and elegant: a small crystal that catches light without overpowering her overall look.
As one of the most photographed faces of the modern fashion industry, her tooth gem choices have helped normalise the trend among a younger demographic. Her version fits the broader Y2K nostalgia revival that has driven the resurgence of small body adornments and dental decoration.
FKA Twigs
British singer-songwriter FKA Twigs has been photographed with tooth gems during various performances and album appearances. The crystals fit well with her artistic, avant-garde approach to beauty and fashion where everything feels intentional and conceptual. She tends to treat them as part of a larger visual statement rather than just a standalone accessory or trend she is trying out.
Her relationship with body modification and decoration goes pretty deep. She has talked about how she thinks about her appearance and presentation as art. The tooth gems become another tool in that creative arsenal, something that can be deployed for specific performances or visual projects and then removed when they have served their purpose. Her commitment to intricate jewel arrangements across multiple teeth has made her one of the most artistically ambitious celebrity adopters of the trend.
The Historical Context
While current celebrities are making tooth gems feel fresh and trendy, the practice of decorating teeth has been around in various forms for much longer than most people realise. Ancient Mayans were decorating teeth with jade thousands of years ago, and different cultures have used dental modification as adornment throughout history. For more on the current tooth gem trend and what is driving it, see our guide to why tooth gems are so trendy right now.
The modern version really took off in the late 1990s and early 2000s with hip-hop culture, where artists were getting diamonds and gold embedded in their teeth as a display of wealth and status. What we are seeing now with mainstream celebrities is a softer, more accessible version of that aesthetic. The gems are temporary, more affordable and appeal to a broader demographic than permanent gold teeth ever did.
Why It Works for Celebrities
Part of the appeal for celebrities is that tooth gems are temporary. They last long enough to make an impact and create content, but they are not a forever commitment like tattoos or more invasive cosmetic procedures. If you get tired of it or need to look more conservative for a particular role or event, you can have it removed without much drama.
The photography aspect matters too. Tooth gems catch light beautifully in photos and videos, adding a point of visual interest that draws the eye without being distracting. In an Instagram-dominated culture where celebrities are constantly creating content, anything that photographs well has inherent value: another tool for making your face more interesting and dynamic on camera.
Inspired by the Celebrities?
As an Authorised Swarovski Distribution Partner and Authorised Preciosa Partner, we supply the same genuine premium crystals used by professional tooth gem studios working with celebrity clients. Browse our Swarovski tooth gems collection for the premium tier (the same brand favoured by Rosalía and Hailey Bieber's looks), our Preciosa tooth gems collection for excellent quality at more accessible pricing, or our complete tooth gems collection for the full range. For guidance on choosing the right gem for your own application, see our guide to choosing the right tooth gem.
Making It Your Own
Seeing celebrities with tooth gems can be inspiring, but what looks good on someone with professional lighting, makeup artists and photo editing might translate differently in real life. Celebrity beauty choices exist in a specific context that most of us do not share. If you are drawn to the look, think about what appeals to you about it beyond just seeing it on someone famous.
The best part about tooth gems becoming mainstream through celebrity adoption is that it has normalised the look enough that it is no longer shocking or particularly rebellious. It is just another beauty option in an increasingly diverse landscape of ways people choose to decorate themselves. Whether you go subtle like Hailey Bieber, artistic like FKA Twigs or bold like Rosalía's crystal butterfly arrangements, there is a tooth gem style that fits what you are going for.
FAQs
Which celebrities started the modern tooth gem trend?
Hailey Bieber is widely credited with bringing tooth gems back into mainstream visibility around 2019-2020. The current trend was driven by a Gen Z It-girl set including Hailey Bieber, Bella Hadid and Iris Law, with global pop stars Rosalía and FKA Twigs making artistic statements with more elaborate Swarovski crystal arrangements. Adwoa Aboah's signature gold tooth gem in the 2017 Marc Jacobs Beauty campaign also played a key role in moving tooth gems into mainstream fashion conversation.
What kind of crystals do celebrities use for tooth gems?
Premium-quality Swarovski crystals are the most commonly cited choice for celebrity tooth gems. Rosalía's signature Swarovski crystal butterflies and Hailey Bieber's small clear crystal looks both use Swarovski as the foundation. Preciosa crystals are also frequently used by professional tooth gem studios. The quality of the crystal matters: cheaper alternatives may degrade in the mouth environment or have less brilliant light return.
How do celebrities apply their tooth gems?
Celebrities use professional tooth gem studios where trained dental professionals or qualified technicians apply the gems using dental-grade adhesive on prepared enamel. The application is non-invasive: nothing is drilled, and the gem can be removed later without damaging the tooth. Top celebrity studios typically work with professional-grade Swarovski crystals and sterile application techniques.
How long do celebrity tooth gems last?
Celebrity tooth gems typically last six months to a year with normal wear, though some celebrities reapply or change designs more frequently for events and photo shoots. The temporary nature is part of the appeal: celebrities can have the look for a specific era or aesthetic and then remove or change it without permanent commitment.
Are tooth gems the same as grillz?
No. Tooth gems are small crystals bonded directly to natural tooth enamel with dental-grade adhesive. Grillz are removable metal or jewelled covers that snap over the teeth without bonding to them. Some celebrities wear both at different times: tooth gems for everyday or subtle red carpet looks, grillz for music videos or bold statement events. Tooth gems are non-invasive and reversible.
