Celebrities With Questionable Oral Hygiene Habits That Have Us Worried For Their Teeth

Celebrities smile for photos, during live performances, and in TikToks. But what's hiding behind those gleaming grins? In some cases, unexpected (and potentially harmful) oral health mistakes.

To be fair, some of their habits aren't as bad as avoiding the dentist. (About 100 million people in the United States don't visit their dentist annually, according to Colgate.) However, many of their unusual oral health and hygiene behaviors can lead to unwanted tooth or whole-mouth consequences.

Take the brushing routine of Julia Roberts, for instance. Her so-called "megawatt" smile has been one of her most notable traits for decades (via Popsugar). But her choice of daily toothpaste additive — baking soda — draws a frown from some experts. Though baking soda is definitely an ingredient in some commercial whitening toothpastes, it isn't necessarily beneficial for your teeth when you use it in its powdery form every day (as Roberts apparently does). Since it's naturally abrasive, baking soda could start to wear down your tooth enamel with regular use. As the enamel wears away, the teeth can start to take on a yellowish look.

There's another issue with baking soda as toothpaste: It doesn't contain cavity-fighting fluoride. Therefore, if you can't help yourself from trying the "Pretty Woman" star's trick, you may need to back up your brushing with a fluoride toothpaste.

For years, actor and influencer Lele Pons has been sharing her journey to overcome some of the symptoms from her anxiousness and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). In 2024, she happily announced on Instagram that she finally kicked a biggie: her nail-biting habit. (If you can relate, here's how to stop biting your nails for good.)

While nail biting might seem to be all about the hands, it can cause damage to the teeth. A 2011 review in the Iranian Journal of Medical Sciences noted that constant nail biting can do harm to the tooth root over time due to the pressure applied when chewing on a fingernail. 

Nail biting may also lead to jaw problems and gum damage, per the article, which focused on studies examining nail biting among children. According to Pons, she has been biting her nails since she was little, showing that even famous people sometimes struggle for years to kick undesirable habits and attain better mental well-being.

Most dentists recommend brushing at least twice a day. But be honest: Have you ever skipped a morning or evening brush-a-thon? It's actually not that uncommon. A survey from the Oral Health Foundation found that 54% of people admitted to skipping their toothbrushing routine at least once each week.

That said, Jessica Simpson may have once taken this kind of behavior to the extreme. In a 2010 interview, she mentioned that she routinely went days between brushing. Days. In lieu of brushing, Simpson said she would floss, rinse with mouthwash, and sometimes just wipe her unbrushed teeth with her shirt. The reason behind her unusual decision was that her teeth felt "slippery" after she brushed them, and she didn't like the sensation.

The 2010 interview made so many waves that Inside Edition tracked down Simpson's dentist at the time, Dr. Bill Dorfman. (Yes, he was surprised.) His response to his Hollywood patient? "One word, brush!" Just resist overdoing his advice, because brushing your teeth too much can be harmful to your teeth.

If you're old enough, you'll remember the hit show "Full House" and Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, the young actresses who took turns playing the littlest family member. Now grown, they're still in the public eye. They're also reportedly engaging in a lot of cigarette smoking, a habit that is bad for your dental health (via In Touch Weekly). In fact, a 2022 study in JAMA Network Open showed a direct correlation between adverse oral health outcomes and smoking cigarettes.

For instance, when inhaled, cigarette smoke can lead to tooth staining. But the toxins in the smoke can damage the sensitive tissues of the mouth as well. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cigarette smoking compromises the healing capabilities of the gums, which can promote the development of gum disease. The CDC also warns that smoking can increase a person's risk of mouth cancer. However, quitting for 10 years can cut that risk in half, which might be a good reason for the Olsen sisters to rethink their habit.