DR MAX: The horrifying motive I wanted dentures at 19
Johnny Depp seemed to have a lot to smile about while on holiday last week in the
Bahamas, not least because of a sparkling new set of gnashers. In a clip posted to social media by a bartender on the island, the actor grins broadly – and gleamingly – leading fans to point out his dental transformation.
It is indeed a dramatic change. In May 2023, at the Cannes Film Festival, people were shocked by Depp’s apparently damaged and discoloured teeth, with some concerned they appeared to be ‘rotting’, and others urging him to go to a dentist.
It seems he took notice – and good for him. He looks much healthier and happier for it.
Johnny Depp caused shock at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, with his apparently damaged and discoloured teeth. Some observers were concerned they appeared to be ‘rotting’
In a clip posted to social media by a bartender in the Bahamas, the actor grins broadly, and gleamingly, leading fans to point out his dental transformation
I’m a great fan of people getting their teeth fixed. I know how much better it can make you feel about yourself, as well as improving your bite and reducing the risk of long-term dental problems.
When I was in my late teens, my teeth suddenly started to move. Horrifyingly, within a year, at the age of 19, the teeth on one side of my jaw began collapsing in – a change in pressure which made several of my front teeth start to stick out at almost right angles. My lip sat over one like a permanent snarl.
I soon became absolutely paranoid about my goofy teeth and found myself covering my mouth when I smiled. I went to the dentist who said that the problem was so extensive (it had been caused by bad dental work when I was a child) that the best option was to remove the teeth and give me dentures. At 19! I was devastated.
Thankfully a very kind elderly aunt, who knew the perils of false teeth, on hearing about this paid for me to have orthodontic work which took, all in all, about five years. It meant I kept all my teeth – and I’m not being dramatic when I say it changed my life.
It’s hard to feel happy when you don’t want to smile. Suddenly, though, all I wanted to do was beam at everyone. I felt happy and confident. People often say I’m always smiling and I like to think I’m making up for those years when I was too embarrassed to do it.
Having been through it myself, I often spot people who are paranoid about their teeth. They cover their mouths or look down when they speak, or pull their upper lip over their teeth. It makes me sad to think that people go through life feeling like this.
Studies have shown the benefits of smiling, from increasing mood-_enhancing hormones such as dopamine and serotonin, to decreasing stress-enhancing hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline. This is so marked that when people are depressed, it’s advised that they practise smiling even when they don’t feel like it, since it boosts their mood anyway.
It has been shown to reduce overall blood pressure and, because you typically smile when you’re happy, the muscles used trigger your brain to produce more endorphins – the chemical that relieves pain and stress. Researchers have even found that one smile can generate the same level of brain stimulation as 2,000 chocolate bars!
At the age of 19, the teeth on one side of my jaw began collapsing in – a change in pressure which made several of my front teeth start to stick out at almost right angles, writes Dr Max Pemberton
Interestingly, smiling isn’t a learned behaviour, but an innate one. Babies smile regardless of their culture or environment and 3D ultrasound scans have shown that babies even smile in the womb. It has an important social function, promoting camaraderie and helping to create social bonds.
A smile signals a willingness to engage in a positive social interaction, that you are open to someone and that you essentially come in peace. One study in 2015 analysed how people described the way they first met their partner, and found the amount of conversation that took place while smiling or laughing was positively associated with closeness and relationship quality. It deepens relationships.
Yet if someone is self-conscious about their teeth, and therefore feels wary of smiling, all these benefits are lost.
Sadly orthodontic work is rarely available for adults on the NHS but I still tell everyone that if there is any way they can afford it, it’s worth it. Yes, it can run into thousands of pounds, but the whole amount is rarely expected up front and can often be spread out over several years. There are also lots of cheaper treatment options.
If you’re feeling unhappy or self-conscious about your teeth, then speak to an orthodontist. It might well put a smile on
your face.
Elle’s unwise confession
If you are someone with a global presence like Elle Macpherson, then there are consequences when you publicly state you have turned your back on conventional medicine, writes Dr Max
Elle Macpherson has come under fire after she shunned chemotherapy for breast cancer in favour of alternative medicine.
I believe each of us should be allowed to make decisions about our health – even if that includes unwise choices. Providing the risks are explained, people should be free to do as they please. But if you are someone with a global presence like Macpherson (left) then there are consequences when you publicly state that you have turned your back on conventional, evidence-based medicine. Your celebrity lends weight and credibility. I get that alternative therapies sound appealing. They’re described using terms like ‘holistic’ and ‘balanced’, and what’s dangerous about that, you might ask? By contrast, the harsh, brutal realities of orthodox treatments are scary and off-putting. But this is how alternative medicine takes hold. It piggy-backs on the wellness trend and passes itself off as something innocent and benign when in fact you are taking an enormous risk. I’ve nothing against complementary therapies. But it’s something entirely different when you choose this over chemotherapy. You must be told that you are risking your life.
