Why Do Grillz Tarnish? How to Care for Silver and Gold Grillz
Tarnished Grillz
Grillz are more than jewelry. They are a statement piece, a custom accessory, and for many people, an investment. Whether your grillz are silver, gold, diamond-cut, open-face, iced out, or simple and clean, proper care makes a major difference in how they look, how long they last, and how often they need to be professionally cleaned.
One of the most common questions we get at Jem Junkies is:
“Why are my grillz changing color?”
The answer is usually tarnishing, buildup, or normal wear from the mouth, food, drinks, moisture, and chemicals. The good news is that tarnishing does not always mean your grillz are ruined. In many cases, a proper cleaning and polishing can bring them back close to their original shine.
Let’s talk about what tarnishing is, why it happens, how it affects silver and gold differently, and what you can do to keep your grillz looking fresh.
What Is Tarnishing?
Tarnishing is a surface reaction that happens when certain metals are exposed to air, moisture, sulfur, chemicals, or other substances. It can make jewelry look darker, dull, cloudy, yellowed, gray, black, or uneven in color.
Tarnish is not the same as rust. Rust usually happens to iron-based metals, while tarnish is more common with silver, copper, brass, and certain metal alloys. Since grillz are often made with precious metals that may include alloyed metals for strength, tarnishing can happen over time, especially without proper care.
Your mouth naturally has moisture, saliva, food particles, and changing pH levels. That environment can make grillz more likely to collect buildup or discolor if they are not cleaned properly.
Why Silver Grillz Tarnish
Silver is beautiful, bright, and classic, but it is also one of the metals most known for tarnishing. Sterling silver and other silver blends can react with sulfur compounds in the air, certain foods, body chemistry, and moisture.
Silver grillz may begin to look:
Dull or cloudy
Yellowish or gray
Dark around the edges
Black in grooves, cuts, or detailed areas
Less shiny than when you first received them
This is especially common if the grillz are worn often, stored incorrectly, exposed to water, or not cleaned after use.
Silver can also pick up buildup from food, drinks, smoking, lip products, and other substances. That buildup can make the tarnish look worse and may be harder to remove with basic at-home cleaning.
Why Gold Grillz Can Change Color
Many people think gold does not tarnish at all. Pure gold is highly resistant to tarnish, but most wearable gold is not pure gold. Grillz are commonly made in 10K, 14K, or other gold blends because pure 24K gold is very soft.
That means gold grillz usually include other metals mixed in to make them stronger. Those added metals can react with moisture, chemicals, or everyday wear.
Gold grillz may become:
Dull
Less shiny
Slightly darker in certain spots
Cloudy from buildup
Discolored around detailed areas
Affected by residue from food, drinks, or smoking
Gold typically tarnishes less than silver, but it can still lose its shine over time. The lower the karat, the more alloy metals are present, which means there may be a higher chance of discoloration or reaction.
This does not mean your gold grillz are fake. It often means they need proper cleaning, polishing, and better care habits.
Common Causes of Tarnish and Buildup
Grillz go inside your mouth, so they are exposed to a lot more than regular jewelry. Even if you are careful, normal use can cause dullness and buildup over time.
Common causes include:
Food and drinks
Acidic foods, sugary drinks, coffee, alcohol, sauces, and dark-colored beverages can leave residue on your grillz.
Smoking or vaping
Smoke, heat, and residue can contribute to discoloration and buildup.
Moisture
Leaving grillz wet or storing them before they are fully dry can speed up tarnishing, especially with silver.
Improper storage
Leaving grillz out in the open, in a bathroom, or in humid areas can expose them to moisture and air.
Chemicals
Toothpaste, mouthwash, household cleaners, chlorine, perfume, and certain beauty products can affect the finish.
Body chemistry
Everyone’s saliva and pH balance are different. Some people naturally experience faster tarnishing or buildup than others.
Wearing them too long
Grillz are jewelry, not permanent dental appliances. Wearing them for extended periods, sleeping in them, or eating with them can lead to more buildup and possible damage.
How to Prevent Tarnishing
You cannot always prevent tarnish completely, especially with silver, but you can slow it down and keep your grillz looking better for longer.
1. Clean your grillz after wearing them
After wearing your grillz, gently clean them before putting them away. This helps remove saliva, food particles, and buildup before it sits on the metal.
Use a soft toothbrush and mild soap with warm water. Be gentle, especially if your grillz have stones, cuts, open-face details, enamel, or custom designs.
2. Dry them completely
Moisture is one of the biggest reasons grillz tarnish faster. After cleaning, dry your grillz completely with a soft, lint-free cloth.
Do not put them away wet.
3. Store them properly
Store your grillz in a clean, dry case when you are not wearing them. Avoid leaving them sitting out on counters, in purses, in cup holders, or in bathrooms.
A dry storage case helps protect them from moisture, scratches, dust, and accidental damage.
4. Do not eat or sleep in your grillz
Eating in grillz can cause food to get trapped, scratch the metal, loosen stones, or create buildup. Sleeping in grillz is also not recommended because it can cause unnecessary pressure, bending, damage, or hygiene issues.
Grillz should be treated like jewelry. Wear them, enjoy them, take photos, make a statement — then clean and store them properly.
5. Avoid harsh chemicals
Do not use bleach, alcohol, peroxide, toothpaste, abrasive powders, or random jewelry cleaners on your grillz. Some products can damage the finish, loosen stones, affect enamel, or make discoloration worse.
Toothpaste may seem like a good idea, but many toothpastes are abrasive and can scratch the metal.
6. Be careful with stones and custom details
If your grillz have diamonds, CZ stones, opal, enamel, open-face designs, diamond cuts, windows, or other custom work, they need extra care. Detailed areas can collect buildup more easily, and aggressive scrubbing can cause damage.
When in doubt, bring them in for a professional cleaning instead of trying to deep clean them yourself.
How Often Should You Clean Your Grillz?
At home, you should lightly clean your grillz after each wear.
For professional cleaning, it depends on how often you wear them. If you wear your grillz regularly, a professional cleaning every few months can help maintain the shine and remove buildup that basic cleaning may not reach.
You may need a cleaning sooner if you notice:
Dark spots
Dullness
Yellowing or graying
Buildup in detailed areas
Loss of shine
Discoloration after heavy wear
Tarnish that does not come off with gentle cleaning
Can Tarnish Be Fully Removed?
Sometimes tarnish can be removed very well. Other times, especially with deeper tarnish, heavy buildup, scratches, older pieces, or certain finishes, the piece may not return to 100% brand new condition.
At Jem Junkies, our cleaning service is designed to help refresh your grillz and get them looking as close to new as possible. While we cannot guarantee that every piece will be restored completely, especially if there is deep tarnish or damage, we can often make a major improvement in shine and appearance.
The goal is to clean, refresh, polish, and help bring back that glow.
Professional Grillz Cleaning at Jem Junkies
If your grillz are looking dull, dark, cloudy, or not as shiny as they used to be, we offer professional grillz cleanings.
Our cleaning service can help with:
Surface tarnish
Dullness
Buildup
Light discoloration
Polishing
Restoring shine
Refreshing the overall appearance of your grillz
We clean your piece with care and treat it based on the metal, design, and condition. Whether you have silver, gold, diamond cuts, open-face grillz, or custom details, we will assess the piece and clean it as safely as possible.
Please note: professional cleaning may not remove every scratch, deep stain, heavy tarnish, or permanent damage, but it can make a noticeable difference and help your grillz look refreshed.
Final Care Tips
To keep your grillz looking their best:
Clean them after wearing.
Dry them completely.
Store them in a dry case.
Avoid eating or sleeping in them.
Keep them away from harsh chemicals.
Do not use toothpaste or abrasive cleaners.
Book a professional cleaning when they start looking dull.
Your grillz deserve the same level of care as any other custom jewelry piece. With the right habits, you can keep them shining longer and avoid unnecessary damage.
Need your grillz cleaned?
Book a grillz cleaning with Jem Junkies and let us help bring the shine back.
