Shay Mitchell Lost An Actual Tooth While Eating A Bagel

In today’s “everyone’s worst nightmare” news, actor and model Shay Mitchell lost an actual, human, adult tooth while biting into a freaking bagel. Yes, this can happen — and it does happen. Better think twice before chomping down on this weekend’s bagel and lox, huh?

Truly the stuff of nightmares, we’ve all thought to ourselves while biting down on an apple or thick piece of rubbery meat, this could be one of our poor teeth’s last moments on this good earth. In fact, fear of losing teeth is hugely common, leading to nightmares and avoidance of the dentist (which is, ironically, the one thing that can help you keep your teeth, of course).

Now, what, you ask, may have caused this travesty to occur?

Over on Mitchell’s Instagram Story, she mentioned that she’d eaten “two bagel sandwiches” (and you can hear the dentist in the background going, “uh-oh!”).

She could be a pretty little liar — get it? har-har — or she could be telling the honest truth, which is that the most delicious of foods could actually do the dirty to an unknowing someone.

This is exactly what we’re thinking. Sheer and utter surprise and terror.

Pretty Little Liars' Shay Mitchell lost a tooth doing something some people do every morning! She also posted photos of her smile & the missing front tooth: https://t.co/3a9WHALOXI

— JustJared.com (@JustJared) April 18, 2019

Now, if you think this is the first time a bagel has attacked, even the pros say that a tough bagel can do real damage. According to VSP Dental, bread is a sneaky killer of happy teeth:

“Most sandwiches are bitten into by the front teeth, but if the bread is of the harder variety (such as a baguette), that first bite can crack an incisor if it hits just right. Stale breads can be just as dangerous — have you ever tried biting through a tough bagel? Again, use caution, and consider cutting harder breads into smaller parts that are more easily chewable.”

It really makes you think twice about all the yumminess out there and all the potential risks they pose to your pearly whites, huh?

Other foods that could break your teeth include ice cubes, almonds, hard candy, protein bars, and — yikes — anything with a pit, just sitting inside their little cocoon waiting to attack.

Ooh, look at this ice cube, just waiting to crack a back tooth. Kinda makes you think twice about sucking on them in the warmth of the summertime.

And this protein bar looks like a healthy choice — but it’s actually a super gooey monster.

Because these can be so thick, it can be hard to bite down on them. Go easy, friends!

As VSP Dental says, even your yummy late-night snacks could lead to a morning dentist visit:

“Also, a candy bar — such as a Milky Way or Snickers — that you’ve frozen might taste good, but it also can place undue stress on your teeth. Use extreme caution with any hard or frozen candy, and take your time enjoying it.”

So, what exactly goes wrong when you break a tooth? Or, in Shay’s case, lose one?

WebMD says, “Teeth can also be worn down by a poor bite, which may require orthodontic work, and nighttime grinding (bruxism), which may require wearing a night guard. Talk to your dentist.”

Other culprits?

“A lifetime of crunching, gnawing, and grinding wears away the outer layer of enamel and flattens the biting edges. Tooth surfaces are also affected by exposure to acidic foods such as citrus fruits and carbonated beverages, which dissolve the protective enamel,” says Harvard Health.

They go on to say that we need to eat well, not smoke, and regularly see a dentist. (Oh, and maybe take it easy when chomping down on a bagel.)

Other foods that cause damage include coffee.

Yep, it can dry out your gums — and healthy gums are necessary for healthy teeth!

Also, sticky foods are kind of the worst, too: “Many dried fruits are sticky. Sticky foods can damage your teeth since they tend to stay on the teeth longer than other types of food,” says the American Dental Association. Yep, even that dried mango you love so much.

Oh, and that soda you like to drink every once in a while?

It’s got a lot of associated risks, including tooth decay.

No matter what, we love Shay’s ability to joke about it — and her willingness to share her tooth-loss journey with her millions of followers. Hilarious.

Just because Shay lost a tooth doesn’t mean that we should be afraid of losing ours. Be gentle with your teeth, take care of them, and be smart with how and what you eat.