Thailand Puts Clamps on Metal Mouth Fad

Thai authorities are clamping down on a teen fad of wearing fake orthodontic braces by targeting those who sell and make the gear with steep fines and prison terms, officials said.

Girls flashing multicolored metallic grins are regularly featured in magazines, making the braces a fashion statement. Teens have been buying do-it-yourself kits.

Rasamee Vistaveth, secretary-general of the Consumer Protection Board, said the fake braces can slip into the throat if their glue doesn’t hold.

They also can cause sores, and some of the wires contain lead, she said.