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It’s safe to say Johnny Depp has been a hot topic over the past few years– his love life, his legal battles… his teeth? Yup, his teeth. Those pearly whites (in this case yellows) have come under scrutiny lately, as fans have noticed that they aren’t in the same condition they once were.
An article even showed up in Page Six, with Depp reporting that his teeth haven’t seen a cleaning in years. He reports being proud of his “flawed” teeth and that he would rather “eat a tick” than get veneers. Noted.
Yet a few missed cleanings shouldn’t produce that level of stains and, quite frankly, rot so what’s going on? Let’s just say Depp’s teeth have experienced more than normal wear and tear. Here’s why.
Bad habits
In many ways, Johnny Depp’s on-screen roles mimic his off-camera life. In 1998 Johnny Depp portrayed Hunter S. Thompson in the film, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. The movie shows endless drug use and Depp practically smokes non-stop on screen. Such aspects of the film not only serve as biographical for its subject but also for Depp, who has been smoking for decades, saying he started at the age of 12. In addition, he once admitted that he spent about $30,000 a month on wine.
When considering the negative dental effects of smoking, and the high acidity of wine — which can do a number on anyone’s teeth if consumed regularly — then Depp’s dental problems seem to become a little more clear. This would be especially true when drinking wine in “mega-pints” as Depp was prone to do, another fact that came out during Depp’s publicized court trial.
Depp also starred in the 2001 film Blow about cocaine smuggler George Jung. It turns out that Depp also had an unfortunate affinity for cocaine. Over the years, his drug use became more prevalent and troublesome. Though it’s unclear when he began this particular habit, he admitted on the stand during the recent Depp-Heard trial that he did cocaine, including a couple of times with Marilyn Manson.
Cocaine can also harm your teeth. According to an article by Banyan Treatment Centers, a drug and alcohol addiction treatment center, the common effects of cocaine on the teeth include, “enamel erosion, perforation of the palate, periodontitis or retracted gums, dry mouth, cavities, and more.” All of these symptoms seem to show up in Depp’s life and mouth, as he reports having multiple cavities and a half-finished root canal, going on eight years old.
A difficult childhood
It’s clear that Depp has had his struggles with substances, in fact in a 2005 Rolling Stone interview he said, “I spent years poisoning myself.”
Depp has admitted that shortly after he started smoking cigarettes (at the age of 12), he started drinking alcohol, and drug use wasn’t not too long after. He noted on trial that his drug use was meant to “numb the residual pain from my youth.”
Depp tried to quit his cocaine habit but only succeeded temporarily. His long-time friend, Bruce Witkin, noted that Depp hated cocaine as a teenager so he was surprised to witness Depp taking cocaine decades later. He said about Depp, “It’s deep-rooted issues that he’s dealt with.”
Depp’s decades of substance use seem to have finally caught up with him, or at least to his teeth. While the reason for the wear and tear to his teeth may no longer be a mystery, the reason he’s so opposed to dental work or veneers remains unclear. Although he has made his thoughts on the matter very clear, the reasoning behind it is a secret he is continuing to keep.