Grills grow in popularity

Young people across the US are wearing metallic teeth grills in ever greater numbers, it has been reported.

A growing trend has developed for the strange item of jewellery, which fits across the bottom front teeth and can be removed, after they were brought to notoriety by rapper Nelly.

Other notable figures in the US rap scene have been seen wearing grills, such as Public Enemy's Flavor Flav and fellow rapper Lil Jon.

The grills, which usually cover the front six teeth, are typically made from platinum or gold.

Cincinnati jewellers Benny Young said that Nelly's 2005 song "Grillz" had caused a surge in demand for the jewellery.

Manager Dwayne Richardson told the Detroit Free Press that the store had made 40 to 45 grills a week before the hit, but now it makes 60 to 70 a week.

He also expected production to exceed 100 a week during the school summer break.

Jeweller John Cho in Ohio also told the paper that rappers had helped boost demand for the grills.

The 70 grills he makes each week retail for between $150 and $200, but some grills can cost much more.