This mum has revealed how she shockingly had to get dentures at 23 after her oral hygiene went downhill as a result of how she grew up.
Shayla Cramer told how she grew up in a poor family without access to a constant supply of water, which she needed to keep her teeth clean.
Shayla, from Ethan, South Dakota, USA, was never able to fix her teeth, even after surgery and as they quickly started falling out, she was forced to get dentures despite only being 23.
She said: “Growing up, my dad was a single father to five and wasn’t able to afford water, so I wasn’t able to take care of my teeth.
“After I had my son in 2018, they just started falling out no matter what I did.
“Insurance is so much for them to cover so little, and I had no help.
“I ended up losing my dad and my twins two weeks apart and life felt like it was falling apart.
“This amazing woman ended up offering to pay for my dentures as long as I could figure out a way to get them all pulled.”
After realising that the problem had gone too far, Shayla had her first mouth surgery at 12 years old where surgeons did everything, they could to bring her front teeth back to life.
Although this solved the problem for many years, when the mum had her son, her teeth unexpectedly started falling out.
Struggling to find the money to pay to have them seen to, she was relieved when a kind a stranger helped her fund the dentures.
She told how since getting the dentures, she has been able to feel confident in herself and can now go about her life as normal.
She said: “People always assume drugs but it wasn’t.
“Finally, after a couple of months I got it done and got my smile back. I never got to truly smile looking beautiful with my son for four years.
“Some of us have had a harsh life or bad genes and pregnancy can take that away from you as well, remember that the next time you judge someone.
“Now that I’ve got my dentures, I’ve been able to eat everything, I’m able to smile, I’m able to enjoy life with my family and kids and it’s been the best choice for me.
“Some people may not think so, but it has helped me more than normal teeth have.”