Let’s talkGRILLS Gold teeth were first worn by women of Etruscan civilization as early as 800 BC. "Certain high-status Etruscan women deliberately had [front teeth] removed in order to be fitted with a gold band appliance holding a replacement, or reused, tooth," —John Becker

Women are steering the trend now too. “When I first started making them, the folks who came to me were friends but when I started hearing from people I didn’t know, they were Black women. I think it’s the connection there, the sisterhood,” —Helen Harris https://girlsunited.essence.com/article/black-women-gold-teeth/

Dental embellishments were also worn by Mayans, who drilled holes in their teeth and replaced them with stones. This concept influenced Erykah Badu’s 2015 grill. “Opal, Amethyst, Turquoise and Moonstone. Inspired by a Mayan skull found in Mesoamerica circa 500 BC” —Badu

The American Dental Journal (Vol 14-15) dives into this history. “A custom which we have found in Esmeraldas, and which, so far as we are aware, is not present in any other part of S America, by the insertion of inlays in small perorations cut in the enamel of the upper incisor.”

The aforementioned Mayan grill also inspired Badu’s 2019 opal grill (designed by jeweler Lillian Shalom.) The opal took 3 years to source. Here’s a clip of EB talking about it.

In some circles, grills are thought to be an invention of the Black American South. Though we didn’t create them, we did help boost popularity. They served as protection from rot, as well as status symbols. https://twitter.com/theprophet_kg/status/1281396693838098432?s=21 https://twitter.com/TheProphet_Kg/status/1281396693838098432

. @JazzShoots confirmed that gold teeth *can* prevent further decay. Her thesis for Columbia University focused on grills & dental hygiene in the Black community.

Her thesis was a photo series titled “Grillz.” @JazzShoots shot some of everyone, including Young M.A., Jay Z, Jay Electronica and A$AP Ferg. Check it out in full here: http://www.jazzshoots.com/#/grillz/ 

Of course, grills are a major flex. Here’s a clip of Three 6 Mafia’s Project Pat talking about folks in Memphis taking inspiration from Columbia’s drug connects in the late 1980s.

Beyoncé wearing a grill in one of her maternity photos is just *chef’s kiss* !!! I love her so much for that.

Speaking of Bey, she has writing credits on Nelly’s song “Grillz” because it sampled lyrics from Destiny’s Child’s song “Soldier.” Kelly and Michelle do too. “Open they mouth, they grill gleaming...Eyes be so low from their chiefin’”

Can’t give out no more info mane lol. I could teach you, but I have to charge.