Jenny McCarthy has opened up about a frightening health ordeal that resulted in her teeth ‘falling out’ due to recurring mouth infections.
Known for her time as a Playboy model and crediting Hugh Hefner with her break into the entertainment industry, McCarthy has faced recent health challenges.
The 53-year-old shared that she was only able to resume eating during Thanksgiving after a lengthy period of avoiding food due to her health issues.
In an emotional interview with PEOPLE, McCarthy discussed her ongoing struggles.
“I’ve had nine surgeries this year, on my mouth,” McCarthy explained, describing how one infection led to another, eventually causing growths to appear on her eyeballs.
The health scare began with a failed ceramic dental implant, leading to her teeth and implants ‘falling out.’ She underwent surgery to ‘dig’ into her jawbone, where they uncovered a ‘deep bone infection.’
Despite implants having a 95 percent success rate according to the American Academy of Implant Dentistry, complications can occur, such as infections, failed integration, or issues from tooth grinding or smoking, which can necessitate removal or re-implantation.
The repercussions have been significant, as McCarthy revealed she has been on antibiotics for a year and restricted to eating only soft foods to prevent further issues.
Her disclosure follows her and husband Donnie Wahlberg’s annual holiday card shared on November 25 on Instagram, featuring the couple in swimwear. Rather than a new fitness routine, she attributed her slender figure to the inability to eat.
“I had two more mouth surgeries even after that photo was taken,” she confessed, calling herself ‘unlucky.’
“As of now, I’m able to chew again, but every time we thought it had cleared up, it came back again. I’d be in massive pain with my jaw swelling up, and at the same time, I was getting these growths popping up on my eyeballs,” she added. “People should actually feel a little sorry for me!”
Fortunately, she believes she is now on the mend and can enjoy more than just mashed potatoes and yams.