Yeah, you’ve done nails. Lashes are last season. And now you’re looking for the new flex in the beauty industry. Ever heard of tooth gems? That’s the trending flex in 2025. Yes, they have been around for a while. But they have evolved from the 2000s bling to a chic aesthetic statement today.
Gen Z is bold and unapologetic. They cherish their individuality and are open to new ways of self-expression. Tooth gems appeal to people who like that little extra. They can be personalised to suit your style. Some prefer to add a little sparkle to their smile, while others prefer a bold, fierce look.
Tooth gems are not just about fixing gems to any tooth. To make your smile really shine, it has to suit your smile and vibe. This blog explores how to choose the right design for your face and smile.
Smile Goals: What Kind of Energy Are You Giving?
Every smile is unique and has its appeal. Some have a soft, open smile. Some have a bold, loud smile. Some have an off-beat smile. The gem has to suit the vibe of the smile. Some smiles need just a tiny sparkle. Some pearly whites can accommodate more decoration. If we are to link tooth gems to personalities, it would look something like this:
The Minimalist: Like the name, a single tiny crystal on a tooth that catches the light when you smile.
The Maximalist: This is for people who like to go all out. Mix-and-match gems or gold decals on their teeth. Maybe even initials or shapes for the adventurers.
The Romantic: Gems in the shape of a heart or star that look delicate and dreamy.
The Trendsetter: For people who like to stand out, this style is about tiny custom charms or coloured crystals that make heads turn
Celebrities have different styles of tooth gems that reflect their nature. Though her music is retro-infused dance pop, Dua Lipa’s gold heart reveals her romantic heart.
Mapping the Sparkle: Where to Place Your Gem
Just like tattoos, the placement of tooth gems is important. Placement cannot be random. It has to align with your facial symmetry. The most common spots are the upper canine or lateral incisor. These placements catch the light beautifully when you smile. But depending on your smile, there are other options to explore.
For a wide smile, a gem at each end gives balance to the face. A subtle smile can create intrigue with one off-centre gem. For a big laugh-energy smile, get playful with asymmetrical placements.
A generic mini ‘gem map’ idea includes placement on the front tooth for a bold statement. For a mysterious sparkle, placement on the side tooth. If you like to be trendy and symmetrical, choose paired gems.
There is also a trend of multiple small gems forming constellations on a tooth.
Face Shape and Tooth Gems: The Aesthetic Match-Up
Think of tooth gems like earrings or eyeliner. Just like you would choose them to match your face shape, tooth gems should be chosen to complement your face shape.
Round faces: To balance the round face, choose to place gems slightly higher on the tooth. It will help elongate the smile.
Oval faces: People with oval faces can pull off balanced or centred designs.
Square faces: The sharp face angles can be softened with curved or teardrop-shaped gems.
Heart-shaped faces: Subtle placements will suit the delicate proportions of this face shape. One clear gem is enough to add sparkle.
If you have a selfie face that you make, then choose to place the gem to complement that.
Colour Theory, But Make It Sparkly
Gem colour show up differently on every smile.
The Skin Tone and Undertone Guide
Warm undertones: Gold, champagne and amber-toned crystals complement warm skin tones.
Cool undertones: Silver, iridescent, blue or violet gems will sparkle better on cool undertones.
Neutral: People with neutral skin tones can safely experiment with all types of tooth gems.
Teeth Tone Factor
People have different tooth tones, and the gem needs to match their shade. Off-white teeth pair better with gold or champagne tones. Stark-white gems pair better with white teeth.
A fun way to sport tooth gems is to match them with your nail polish or hair colour streaks. The current trend is to have tooth gems with pastel shades for soft-girl vibes and holographic ones for Y2K glam.
Matching Your Aesthetic- From Soft Girl to Streetwear Star
Gen Z has some tooth gem aesthetics you could follow to keep up with the times.
A heart or butterfly tooth gem in pink or pearl tones gives a soft girl or coquettish vibe. Multi-colour gems in playful placements (like hearts, stars, or cherries) give a Y2K baddie aura. A tiny gold or clear gem in a single tooth is super understated. It is for girls who like to maintain a clean image. Metallic accents or multiple placements with bold symmetry give streetwear vibes. Custom shapes in asymmetrical placements or even tiny gem ‘freckles’ is an artsy Indie vibe.
Make your gem part of your aesthetic story. Accessorise them with matching ear piercings, nails or rings for a cohesive look.
The Glam Meets the Gram: Smile Photography Tips
If you love selfies and the Gram is serious business for you, then here are some pointers on how to make your tooth gems pop in photos:
Click pics using warm light or natural sunlight- it makes the gem glow. Keep the smile natural and avoid overexposing your teeth. Use lip gloss to amplify the contrast and make the gem pop in pictures. Flash can cancel out the sparkle of the gem, so it is best avoided.
Editing tools and filters can be useful to enhance the sparkle without dulling the gems. Your tooth gem should be used like a highlighter. It should catch the light without stealing the show.
Aftercare, But Make it Cute
The extra sparkle of your smile can fade if it is not properly cared for. Always brush gently to avoid displacing the tooth gems. Tooth whitening strips or toothpaste applied directly to the tooth can loosen the adhesive, so they are best avoided. Inform your dentist when you go for regular dental check-ups. Avoid biting into hard foods, as it can dislodge the gem.
Your Smile, Your Canvas
Though this blog gives you a picture of tooth gem aesthetics and the current trends, there is no ‘perfect’ way to wear them- only your way. It is all about individuality and what part of your personality you would like to share with the world. Tooth gems are for all styles and personalities.
When you can accessorise all your body parts to match your vibe, then why not your teeth? Tooth gems are a novel way of self-expression. They can be personalised to be unique, subtle or bold.
At Colibri Tattoo & Piercing, we have made many a smile sparkle brighter. If you are looking for the best places to start your journey with tooth gems, look no further. Come and visit us today!
