Woman who got dentures at AGE 24 after losing her teeth in horrific skateboarding accident when she was just 13 speaks out about ‘trauma’

A young woman who has worn dentures since the age of 24 after losing her teeth in a skateboarding accident has spoken of the ongoing ‘trauma’ she has had for the rest of her life.

Lilyy Magno was 13 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 friend.

At that time, Lilyy’s braces broke, and although her teeth were still intact, it had a long-term effect on her gums.

A decade later, the New Jersey native had to have several front teeth removed and started wearing dentures at age 24.

Now at 27, she’s embracing her toothless smile and inspiring others to do the same.

But Lilyy hasn’t always embraced wearing prosthetics.

“It turns out that when you experience trauma to your face and teeth, it can lead to problems down the road,” she said.

“These issues can include dental complications, gum problems and even tooth loss.”

A decade after that skateboard mishap, Lilyy faced the unexpected consequences.

Her gums became infected and that’s when her dental battle began.

“In high school, I started having toothaches. A trip to the dentist revealed that gum tissue was eating away at one of my tooth roots due to past trauma and I needed a root canal,” Lilyy explained.

“The root canal helped relieve the pain, but a few years later the pain returned and the tooth had to be extracted and an implant placed.”

In 2020 at the age of 24, Lilyy started experiencing severe pain with two more teeth.

Despite antibiotic treatment and attempts at bone grafting, a difficult 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 around the world.

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 very embarrassed and insecure when I first lost my teeth. I didn’t want to talk about it with anyone, let alone broadcast it on TikTok”, remembers Lilyy.

“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, 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 letting negativity define her, she consciously chose to use her prosthetics to symbolize empowerment.

“When I started sharing my story in 2020, I was amazed at 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 faith,” 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 fraud.

“Putting myself out there was scary, but the positive responses gradually boosted my confidence. I basically faked it until I really felt it.

“Of course I encountered trolls early on, which bothered me at first. However, I tend to have a “glass half full” attitude, so the positive feedback and inspiration I could provide outweighed the negativity.’

As she continues to use her voice to uplift and empower, Lilyy, whose OnlyTeeth podcast will soon be available on Spotify and Apple, reminds us all that all smiles, even imperfect ones, are beautiful.

“Beauty standards are not real. We are all human which means we are all uniquely created,” she said.

Each of us has our flaws, but they don’t define us. And so there is no scale for beauty.

“Your flaws and other people’s opinions cannot determine your self-worth. Only you can.

“If someone criticizes your flaws, that’s their problem, not yours. Self-esteem comes from self-respect and positive relationships.

‘It’s about knowing you’re a good person and treating others with kindness. Confidence starts with self-love, not looks.

“If you struggle in any of these areas, consider therapy. It is a powerful tool for finding peace and self-esteem.

“Mental health is openly discussed today and therapy is not just for diagnosed disorders. It’s about building trust and healthier relationships, without judgement.’