By Dr Nishma Kotecha, dentist
Rita Ora spent Halloween as Dolly Parton. She channelled the country icon at a Dolly-themed party in New York on 30 October, big hair and all. Very glam. Very Rita.
But the most surprising thing in Rita's world isn't hanging in her wardrobe. It's hanging on her wall. Because Rita Ora has her four wisdom teeth, dipped in gold, in a frame.
Some people frame their platinum records. Rita framed her molars.
The short answer: on Capital Breakfast in June 2025, Rita said she had all four wisdom teeth taken out, kept them, had them dipped in gold and framed them at home. These are keepsakes, not anything in her mouth. It's a fun story, but it's a good excuse to clear up the difference between three very different "gold teeth": a gold-dipped keepsake on a wall, a gold crown fitted by a dentist to repair a tooth, and grillz, which are removable decorative covers. (If your own wisdom teeth are playing up, I've written about wisdom tooth pain and the five signs yours shouldn't wait.)
What did Rita Ora actually say?
On 13 June 2025, Rita joined Jordan North, Chris Stark and Sian Welby on Capital Breakfast and, as On The Radio reported, dropped this gem:
"I took my wisdom teeth, I kept them, and I dipped them in gold."
And then, just in case anyone thought she was joking: "I framed them!"
She explained she'd had "all four" removed, "top and bottom", and gave everyone some very Rita advice: "Listen, keep them! Don't let the dentist throw them away." Her reasoning? "Apparently, if you have your wisdom teeth and you keep them around, you'll be smart forever."
I'm going to be the boring dentist here and say there's no evidence that framing your wisdom teeth makes you smart forever. But I love the energy. And after the week a lot of people have after wisdom tooth surgery, they deserve a trophy.
That's what's on the record. Rita said the teeth were removed, kept and gold-dipped as keepsakes. She didn't say anything about gold teeth in her mouth, so I'm not going to suggest she has any.
Why did Rita have all four wisdom teeth out?
She didn't say exactly why, and I won't guess. But having all four removed at once isn't unusual.
Wisdom teeth are the last teeth to come through, usually in your late teens or twenties, and they often don't have enough room. The NHS lists common problems including gum infections, food getting stuck, decay, gum disease, cysts and abscesses.
If a wisdom tooth isn't causing problems, it's usually left alone and checked at your routine check-ups. Removal is considered when they are. Sometimes several come out together, sometimes one at a time, depending on how they're sitting and what's going on. I've covered the warning signs in wisdom tooth pain: infection or emergency?.
Can you keep your teeth after they're taken out?
This is the question everyone asks after hearing Rita's story.
Some people do like to keep a tooth after an extraction, whether it's a child's first lost tooth or a wisdom tooth that caused them months of grief. If you'd like to keep yours, the simplest thing is to ask your dentist or surgeon before the procedure, so they can tell you whether that's possible in your case.
What I'd say is: the tooth is a souvenir, not a project. Gold-dipping and framing are jobs for a jeweller, not a dentist. And whatever you do with it, it doesn't go back in your mouth.
Three kinds of "gold teeth" that aren't the same thing
Rita's framed wisdom teeth have nothing in common with gold in the mouth. But because "gold teeth" can mean very different things, it's worth separating them.
1. Gold-dipped keepsakes
That's Rita's version. A tooth that's already been removed, coated in gold by a jeweller, and displayed as a keepsake. It's decoration. It has no effect on your mouth or your dental health. Your only risk is someone finding it on the shelf and screaming.
2. Gold crowns and restorations
These are proper dental treatment. A crown is a cap that covers a whole tooth, and gold alloys have been used for crowns for a very long time. They're usually used on back teeth, where they take a lot of chewing force, because gold is strong and hard-wearing.
You might have a gold crown and not even realise, because it's tucked away at the back. Most people choose tooth-coloured crowns these days, especially at the front, but gold still has a place. If you're curious about crowns, I've explained the difference in veneers vs crowns, and the costs in dental crown cost in the UK.
3. Grillz
Grillz are removable covers worn over the teeth, usually made from metals like gold or silver and sometimes decorated with jewels. They're a fashion accessory, not a dental treatment.
The Oral Health Foundation warns that grillz can raise the risk of tooth decay and gum disease, because plaque and food get trapped underneath. They can also damage enamel, irritate gums and cause allergic reactions to some metals. Grillz that don't fit properly can cause problems with chewing or speaking, and the OHF says ones bought online or not made by a dental professional are more likely to fit badly.
If you do wear them, the OHF advice is to take them out before eating, take them out to brush and clean between your teeth, clean them thoroughly every day, never share them, and don't wear them all the time.
What recovery from wisdom tooth removal is actually like
If Rita's story has reminded you that your own wisdom teeth need sorting, here's what the NHS says to expect.
Most people are back to normal activities the next day. Pain and swelling usually start to ease after a day or two, though a sore, stiff jaw and some bruising can hang around for up to two weeks.
To help it heal, the NHS suggests:
- paracetamol or ibuprofen for pain
- soft food until chewing feels comfortable
- gentle rinsing with warm salt water or mouthwash
- brushing your other teeth carefully, avoiding the extraction site
- avoiding smoking, alcohol, very hot drinks, and hard or crunchy food
The aim is to protect the blood clot in the socket. If it gets dislodged too early, you can get a painful condition called dry socket. I've explained what healing should look like in what a normal socket looks like after an extraction, and how long the numbness lasts after the dentist.
The NHS says to get urgent help from your dentist or NHS 111 if you have bleeding that won't stop, severe or worsening pain and swelling that painkillers don't help, or pain with a bad taste, fever or feeling unwell.
And if you're nervous about having teeth out, you're far from alone. Help for nervous patients is a normal part of dentistry. Just say so.
A few quick questions
Did Rita Ora get gold teeth? She said she had her four extracted wisdom teeth dipped in gold and framed at home. These are keepsakes, not teeth in her mouth.
Can I keep my wisdom teeth after they're removed? Ask your dentist or surgeon before the procedure. They'll tell you whether that's possible.
Are gold crowns still used? Yes. Gold alloys are still used for some crowns, usually on back teeth, because they're strong and hard-wearing.
Are grillz bad for your teeth? They can be. The Oral Health Foundation warns they can trap plaque and food, increasing the risk of decay and gum disease, and badly fitting grillz can damage teeth and gums.
The verdict
Rita Ora took the most dreaded dental procedure of your twenties and turned it into wall art. Iconic, really.
But if you're thinking of going for gold, remember the difference. A gold keepsake is decoration. A gold crown is a treatment. Grillz are a fashion accessory that needs looking after carefully. And if your own wisdom teeth are causing trouble, get them looked at first. You can decide whether they're frame-worthy later.
This article is general information based on public reporting. It is not personal dental advice. Rita Ora and Capital have no connection with this article.
