Demi Moore admitted to Jimmy Fallon on a recent appearance on The Tonight Show that she is, in fact, missing her two front teeth. Viewers didn’t have to take her word for it – Fallon had a photo showing the major hole in the celeb’s smile. While plenty of celebrities are sporting porcelain veneers, Lumineers, and other types of smile makeovers, Moore’s reveal is refreshingly honest in a culture that is all about perfection. The reasons behind Moore’s imperfect smile, however, are one of the more fascinating – and baffling – elements of her situation.
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What Really Makes Teeth Fall Out
Moore has often landed on celebrity smile makeover round-ups. Before she became a household name, the actress had misaligned, stained, and altogether unappealing teeth. The smile she is known for now no doubt came courtesy of cosmetic dentistry. So, when Moore says she “sheared off” her front teeth due to stress, does that mean she ruined her porcelain veneers? Only her cosmetic dentist knows for sure. What we know is that porcelain veneers are designed to be incredibly durable and long-lasting.
We also know that teeth don’t just fall out of your mouth unless there is disease present. So, when Moore says, “I had a bad bite and knocked my own front tooth out, which basically fell out into my hand,” there is far more to the story if this is indeed what happened.
Stress can contribute to tooth loss, but not in the ways Moore is claiming. Stress reactions can include:
- Teeth grinding: Along with damaging the jaw joint, grinding your teeth when awake or asleep can cause enamel erosion or fractured and cracked teeth. In some cases, teeth that are split in half because of bruxism cannot be saved and must be replaced, usually by a dental implant. If a piece of the tooth is broken off, a veneer or cosmetic tooth bonding are usually good choices for repairs.
- Depression or anxiety: Challenging emotional states can lead people to ignore their oral health and neglect to floss daily and brush at least twice a day. Stress-related depression can lead to a build-up of plaque, gum inflammation, and inflammatory proteins in saliva. Cortisol, the stress hormone, can also build up and people in dark situations can be more susceptible to bacteria and plaque in their mouth. Without proper care and without seeing your Midtown Manhattan dentist every six months, oral health problems have opportunities to set up shop.
- Inflammation: Along with creating inflammation throughout the body, stress can do the same in the mouth. This factor contributes to the likelihood of developing gum disease, which is one of the main contributors to tooth loss in adults. Reaching the point where teeth are just falling out of your mouth, however, means you are suffering from a severely advanced stage of gum disease, which indicates that you haven’t been keeping up with your oral health routine at home or visiting your dentist as recommended.
In short, you shouldn’t worry about your teeth simply falling out of your mouth if you’re taking proper care of them. Teeth are incredibly strong – so Moore’s case is indeed unique, and the details surrounding it are murky.
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Live a Better Life with a Smile Makeover
While Moore admitted that her daughters find her holey smile hilarious, they also feel that it makes her look more “human” and “vulnerable.” Maybe if you’re a movie star these qualities are hard to come by and necessary to promote. In the real world, however, no employer is going to applaud you for sporting missing front teeth because you’re being honest about your less-than-ideal oral health.
In professional and social circles, especially in Manhattan, people are absolutely judged if they don’t have a decent set of teeth. If you have missing teeth, they can be replaced with dental implants, or even a dental bridge and porcelain crowns. Moore praised modern dentistry for repairing her tooth in time for her appearance on The Tonight Show, but dental implants and bridges do take a few visits to complete. There is the option to receive one-hour veneers by Cerinate, and Moore may have visited a dentist who offered this fast and natural-looking smile makeover option.
If you find yourself in a situation where your teeth are loose, or a cosmetic dentistry repair becomes dislodged, contact Dr. Michael J. Wei at his cosmetic dentistry practice in Midtown Manhattan. It’s time for a dental appointment, whether you have a date with a late-show host or not.
