Marilyn Monroe: Plagued by Plaque
Marilyn Monroe, best known for her roles in movies during the 1950s, consistently battled gingivitis and halitosis from the age of 19 (circa 1945) until her death in 1962. Her failure to brush and floss consistently led to a late start to her career and an early end.
You don’t have to brush your teeth - just the ones you want to keep.
Monroe was first discovered in 1945 while working in a Radioplane Munitions Factory, and Fox later signed her to a contract in 1946. Because of her gingivitis and halitosis, she was not featured in a well-known picture until 1952. In the end, because of her personality, voice, and - when her mouth was closed - undeniable good looks, Fox began to give her more roles in bigger pictures.
Signing Monroe to a contract was a huge investment for producers because each film would have to be retouched to hide her flaw. Also, her agents had every one of her photos retouched to make her more marketable.
Arthur Miller (Husband #3) watches disdainfully as Marilyn Monroe eats a hotdog.
Throughout the years, her agents, close friends, and husbands encouraged her to brush and floss consistently and eat healthier. She never listened.
On August 5, 1962, Monroe checked into the Brentwood Family Dental facility for a cleaning after her husband, Arthur Miller, scheduled an appointment for her. Once the dentist had a look at her, he decided to perform an emergency operation because of an advanced condition caused by her gingivitis. Nitrous oxide was given to her, and she never woke up.
Lee Strasberg, one of Monroe’s directors, delivered the eulogy at her funeral. Strasberg said in closing, “Marilyn was a vibrant woman. She will be missed by us who were her close friends, and she will be missed by the many admirers she won over.” Strasberg added with a chuckle, “As we know she was an irony. Despite what we know to be true, she truly was a breath of fresh air.”
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