No — take your grillz out before you eat or drink anything. This is the single most important habit for keeping a custom set looking sharp and staying comfortable long-term. Here's exactly why, from a family shop that's been handcrafting custom grillz in Central Texas since 1991.
Why you should take grillz out to eat
Food gets trapped between the grill and your teeth
Grillz fit snugly against your teeth by design — that's what makes them look great and stay in place. But that same snug fit means food particles get pushed into the gap between the metal and your tooth surface while you chew. Unlike a filling or a crown, a grill isn't bonded to your tooth — there's a tiny space where debris collects, and it's much harder to clean out than your teeth alone.
It's uncomfortable, and it will show
Chewing with grillz in changes how food contacts your teeth and can feel awkward or uncomfortable, especially with harder foods. Beyond comfort, trapped food residue against metal for extended periods can dull the shine and, over time, contribute to discoloration that a quick rinse won't fully fix.
Drinks matter too, especially colored ones
Coffee, wine, soda, and other colored beverages are just as much a concern as food. These drinks can stain and dull precious metal surfaces over time, particularly in the tight spaces where the grill meets your tooth. Water is fine — but if it's got color or sugar in it, take your grillz out first.
Hygiene, plain and simple
Food and bacteria trapped against your teeth for hours is exactly the environment that causes bad breath and puts you at higher risk for issues like tooth decay near the grill's edges. Removing your grillz to eat, then rinsing your mouth and the grillz themselves afterward, keeps both your teeth and your jewelry in good shape.
What about just a quick snack or a sip of water?
Plain water is fine with grillz in. For anything else — even a quick snack — it only takes a few seconds to remove your grillz, and it's worth the habit. The goal isn't to be precious about it; it's to build a reflex: grillz out before anything besides water touches your mouth.
The habit that makes this easy
Most people who wear grillz regularly develop a simple routine: grillz go in when you're ready to be seen — photos, going out, meeting up with people — and come out before you eat, drink anything but water, sleep, or brush your teeth. Keep your case with you (the one that shipped with your set) so removing them for a meal is a 5-second habit, not an inconvenience.
What if you forget and eat with them in occasionally?
Once in a while isn't going to ruin a solid metal set — real silver, 10K, or 14K gold is durable. But make it the exception, not the routine. If it becomes a regular habit, you'll see it faster in discoloration and buildup, and it's not good for your teeth underneath either. If you do eat with them in, rinse both your mouth and your grillz as soon as you can afterward.
The bigger picture — caring for your set
Taking grillz out to eat and drink is one piece of a simple overall care routine: rinse after wear, clean weekly, take them out to sleep, and store them dry. Do all of that and a solid metal set lasts for years. Full breakdown in our grillz care guide.
Questions about your specific set?
Call our stores — Killeen (254) 539-4653 or Copperas Cove (254) 547-4653 — or text our VIP line (254) 294-7865. Or read more in our removable grillz guide and FAQ. We've been making custom grillz for Central Texas families since 1991.
Related answers: Grillz care: how to clean and store · Are grillz permanent? · How long do custom grillz last? · FAQ
