Over the last fifteen years, I have watched feathers, “bling”, paperclips, friendship bracelets, safety-pin piercings, pacifiers, lollipop rings, facial implants, and even toothbrush bracelets flit across the fashion stage. Yes, facial implants and toothbrush bracelets. Accessorizing seems to be one way in which even the most conservative can go out on a limb. But never before have I seen human body parts worn as jewelry – until now.

A new trend appears to be taking hold in popular Chinese culture. Rather than discarding lost teeth, keeping them in a jar, or placing them hopefully under a pillow at night, Chinese young people are using human teeth to create jewelry. Avant-garde jewelry makers are placing human teeth in key rings, necklaces, earrings, and rings. Encased in colorful plastic, the tooth gleams, its every curve magnified by the plastic covering. As jewelry, a human tooth becomes more than just a root and some enamel. This is art, a gleaming combination of form and function.

What a great concept. These teeth do not need whitening, biannual cleanings, or braces. They cannot fall out or break, nor do they have to look perfect to complement their wearer. After all, tooth decay might even look hot encased in shiny plastic, who knows? And this might be the only way one can legitimately wear someone else’s teeth without facing a lawsuit. Wear them on a first date; how can there be an awkward silence with such a great conversation piece? So, the next time I start thinking about getting a smile makeover, I think I’ll sport some tooth jewelry instead. Cheap, removable, and socially functional in a strange yet charming way – right up my alley.