There is no legal minimum age to buy or wear grillz in the United States. No federal or state law restricts their sale to minors the way tobacco or tattoos are regulated. That said, most dental professionals and many custom grillz retailers effectively set the practical threshold at 18, and there are real dental health reasons to wait until your jaw and teeth have finished developing.
What Retailers Actually Require
Most online custom grillz companies require buyers to be at least 18, or the “age of majority” in their state. Custom Gold Grillz, one of the larger online retailers, states in its terms of service that customers must be at least the age of majority in their state or province of residence. If a buyer is under 18, a parent or guardian typically needs to place the order and give consent. Walk-in jewelry shops and mall kiosks that sell pre-made or semi-custom grillz may not check ID at all, which is how many teenagers end up with them.
Why Dentists Recommend Waiting
The American Dental Association advises against cosmetic oral jewelry in general, including grillz and tooth gems, because of “the increased risk of negative health outcomes.” Their concerns center on plaque buildup, enamel damage, chipped teeth, and gum inflammation. These risks apply at any age but are amplified in younger mouths for a few reasons.
First, your jaw doesn’t stop growing when your adult teeth come in. Research on mandibular development shows that the lower jaw continues growing into the early twenties. One study tracking Danish males found measurable jaw growth of about 3 millimeters between ages 16 and 17, with growth tapering off to essentially zero between 21 and 22. A grill fitted to a 14- or 15-year-old’s teeth could become too tight or misaligned within a year or two as the jaw shifts, potentially pushing teeth out of position or creating pressure points that damage enamel.
Second, teenagers are still building habits around oral hygiene. A published case study in the Journal of Clinical Pediatric Dentistry described a 16-year-old male who developed rampant tooth decay in teeth that had previously been completely cavity-free. The primary factor was regular wear of a grill purchased from a neighborhood jewelry store. Food particles and bacteria get trapped between the grill and your teeth, and if you’re not removing the grill frequently and cleaning both the grill and your teeth thoroughly, decay can develop fast.
The Safest Age Range
Most dentists who weigh in on grillz suggest waiting until at least 18, and ideally into your early twenties, when jaw growth has largely stabilized. At that point, a custom-fitted grill is less likely to interfere with tooth alignment. Your permanent teeth, including wisdom teeth, will have either fully erupted or been dealt with, so a mold taken of your teeth will stay accurate longer.
If you’re a teenager determined to get grillz, a few factors reduce the risk. Custom-fitted grillz from a reputable jeweler are far safer than generic, one-size-fits-all pieces. Removable grillz are strongly preferred over any permanent or glued-on option, because you can take them out to eat, brush, and sleep. Wearing them for short periods (a few hours for photos or events) rather than all day, every day, limits the time bacteria spend trapped against your teeth.
Removable vs. Permanent Grillz
Removable grillz snap onto your teeth and can be taken out whenever you want. They’re what the vast majority of people wear, and they carry the lowest risk as long as you clean them regularly. Permanent grillz, which are bonded or cemented onto your teeth, are a different story entirely. They make proper brushing and flossing nearly impossible in the covered areas, dramatically increasing the chance of decay and gum disease. Permanent options are especially risky for anyone under 25 whose teeth and jaw are still settling.
Keeping Your Teeth Healthy With Grillz
The ADA specifically warns about plaque accumulation on grillz, which increases the risk of cavities and gum infection over time, “particularly when oral hygiene practices are insufficient.” If you wear grillz at any age, a few habits make a significant difference:
- Remove before eating. Food trapped under a grill is the fastest route to decay.
- Brush and floss before putting them in. Grillz seal whatever is on your teeth against the enamel, so starting with a clean surface matters.
- Clean the grill itself daily. A soft toothbrush and non-abrasive soap work for most metals. Avoid toothpaste, which can scratch gold and create tiny grooves where bacteria thrive.
- Limit wear time. The longer grillz sit on your teeth, the more opportunity bacteria have to do damage. Taking them out at night is essential.
Parents considering grillz for a teenager should know that the purchase itself is usually straightforward with parental consent, but the ongoing hygiene commitment is real. A dental checkup before getting fitted, and regular visits afterward, can catch early signs of enamel wear or gum irritation before they become serious problems.