A young woman who has worn dentures since she was 24 after losing her teeth in a skateboarding accident has spoken out about the ongoing ‘trauma’ it had on her for the rest of her life.
Lilyy Magno was 13 years old when she was riding the same skateboard as a friend when they fell and her face ended up serving as a ‘landing pad’ for her pal.
At the time, Lilyy’s braces broke and despite her teeth still being intact, it had a long-lasting impact on her gums.
Fast forward to a decade later, the New Jersey native was forced to get several front teeth removed and started wearing dentures at 24.
A young woman lost several front teeth a decade after her skateboard accident when she was a teen. Lilyy Magno, 27, was sharing the same skateboard with her friend when she was 13
She fell and her dental braces broke and there was trauma inflicted on her gums. 10 years later she got a severe pain in two of her front teeth and they were removed
Now at 27, she’s embracing her toothless smile and inspiring others to do the same.
But Lilyy has not always embraced wearing dentures.
‘Turns out when you experience trauma to your face and teeth, it can lead to issues down the road,’ she said.
‘These issues could include dental complications, gum troubles and even tooth loss.’
A decade after that skateboarding mishap Lilyy grappled with the unexpected repercussions.
Her gums became infected and that’s when her dental battle began.
‘In high school I started experiencing toothache. A trip to the dentist revealed my gum tissue was eating away at one of the roots of my tooth due to past trauma and I needed root canal treatment,’ Lilyy explained.
‘The root canal helped ease the pain but a few years later the pain returned and the tooth had to be extracted and an implant inserted.’
Lilyy’s authenticity and unfiltered storytelling struck a chord with viewers worldwide. Today Lilyy has more than 721,700 followers on TikTok and 81,200 fans on Instagram
In 2020 at age 24, Lilyy started experiencing severe pain with two more teeth.
Despite antibiotic treatment and bone grafting efforts, a tough decision had to be made.
Two more teeth were removed and she was fitted with dentures as her gums were too damaged for implants.
Amidst the struggles of wearing dentures Lilyy turned to TikTok as an outlet to share her journey with tooth loss, documenting the highs and lows, the joys and insecurities.
Lilyy’s authenticity and unfiltered storytelling struck a chord with viewers worldwide.
Her TikTok videos quickly gained traction and her message of self-acceptance began to spread.
She has more than 721,700 followers and 27 million likes on TikTok, and 81,200 followers on Instagram.
‘I was so ashamed and insecure when I first lost my teeth. I didn’t want to talk about it to anyone, let alone broadcast it on TikTok,’ Lilyy recalled.
‘I hated my smile and the stigma around missing teeth. But then I realized I’m not alone in feeling this way.
‘I wanted to turn my negativity into something positive, to feel better about my smile and help others do the same. So I used my platform to spread a new kind of body positivity.’
Despite the overwhelming support and love she received Lilyy still encountered her fair share of trolls and haters on social media.
Instead of allowing negativity to define her she consciously chose to use her dentures to symbolize empowerment.
‘When I started sharing my story in 2020, I was astonished by how many people would comment, saying things like, “I can relate to your experience,” “I’m so insecure about my missing teeth,” “I wish I had your confidence,” or “you inspire me,”‘ she said.
‘The irony was that at the time I didn’t feel confident about my teeth. I wanted to help others but I also felt like a bit of a fraud.
‘Putting myself out there was scary but the positive responses gradually boosted my confidence. I basically faked it until I genuinely felt it.
‘Of course I encountered trolls early on which initially bothered me. However, I tend to have a “glass half full” attitude so the positive comments and the inspiration I could provide outweighed the negativity.’
As she continues to use her voice to uplift and empower, Lilyy, whose podcast OnlyTeeth will be available soon on Spotify and Apple, reminds us all that all smiles, even imperfect ones, are beautiful.
‘Beauty standards aren’t real. We are all human which means we are all uniquely made,’ she said.
‘We each have our own flaws but they don’t define us. And so there is no scale for beauty.
She continues to use her voice to uplift and empower. Her podcast, OnlyTeeth, will be available soon on Spotify and Apple
‘Your flaws and other people’s opinions cannot determine your self-worth. Only you can.
‘If someone criticizes your flaws that’s their issue not yours. Self-worth comes from self-respect and positive relationships.
‘It’s about knowing you’re a good person and treating others kindly. Confidence starts with self-love, not appearance.
‘If you struggle in any of these areas, consider therapy. It’s a powerful tool for finding peace and self-worth.
‘Mental health is openly discussed today and therapy isn’t just for diagnosed disorders. It’s for building confidence and healthier relationships, judgment-free.’
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