A woman on TikTok is sharing her story of being 30 years old and wearing dentures.
Cheyenne Dunn, who’s social media accounts are named “cheyssmilejourney,” is documenting her story of her oral health problems while attempting to break the stigma of needing dentures at a young age.
Dunn, 31, describes herself as a “toothless babe,” is a full time server and part time wedding photographer based in Savannah and started a GoFundMe to raise $33,000, the cost for dental implants surgery.
The Georgia woman’s, oral problems first began when she got braces at the age of 15, a move she claims was her “biggest regret,” until they were removed at the age of 17, leaving Dunn’s teeth with spots and some decay.
Her dentist at the time recommended dentures because she “couldn’t afford the dental work,” Dunn claimed in one TikTok.
“I was so happy with my new smile but so disappointed that I couldn’t keep my natural teeth because of money,” Dunn said.
While most people would expect the journey to be over, Dunn claimed in March she had been rapidly losing her gums and bones in her jaw causing pain while eating, which has led her to “lose 15 pounds in the past month that I couldn’t afford to even lose.”
Dunn says her condition is worsening and her oral surgeon says “it’s imperative that I get implants before my gums deteriorate anymore.”
Because of the rate of the deterioration, Dunn says the procedure is time sensitive, and while she has been building her credit and portfolio to become a full time photographer, she is asking for financial assistance to help get the implant process started.
Dunn’s videos have received mixed reactions from her commenters with some supporting her journey, others ridiculing the dentists and some looking at the “toothless babe’s” other features.
“I’m a dentist and I’m in shock that any dentist would suggest this at such a young age. I’ve seen one young adult in my 20 plus years and it was bc,” said one commenter under the name “injector_smile_perfecter.”
Dunn did share her feelings she had towards the first dentist, saying he was sadistic and had fun removing her teeth.
“He was a complete sadist & absolutely enjoyed pulling my teeth, after I paid and got the extractions he showed his true colors and was a total d-k,” Dunn said about the dentist in response to a comment.
Other commenters claim she had abused drugs, a notion Dunn has rebutted several times including a video reply to one comment saying “Meth is one hell of a drug.”
“Not all denture wearers lost their teeth due to drugs, there are many causes: genetics, auto immune disorders, bad childhoods, physical abuse, mental health, etc..” Dunn said in a video on Thursday. “Even if someone loses their teeth due to drugs, thats their story and they don’t deserve to be put down for what they’ve been through. Educate yourselves.”
Other commenters seemed to ignore her denture problems and looked at her other features.
“She’s so fine, even after just waking up,” one commenter recently said.
“You’re beautiful with or without teeth,” another wrote.
Dunn’s GoFundMe had raised almost $10,000 as of Friday morning.