Dakota Johnson of “Fifty Shades” and “Madame Web” fame had an endearing smile, tooth gap and all. Come 2019, however, the gap in the middle of her upper teeth closed, because she had her retainer taken out in an effort to combat neck pain. “I was so upset because I’ve had the gap my whole life. But when I had a retainer on the back of my teeth taken off, it closed by itself,” shared Johnson with InStyle magazine.
A tooth gap, medically referred to as diastema, typically happens between your two front teeth. An overgrowth of tissues in the middle of the inner lips, overgrown gum tissue, having too-small teeth for your jawbone, extra or missing teeth, and even genetics could play a role in why tooth gaps happen. Diastema can also occur because of abnormal swallowing reflexes, thumb sucking, and gum disease.
In Johnson’s case, while it’s unclear why she developed the tooth gap to begin with, the removal of her retainer seems to have naturally closed the space, which is not normal but possible, according to celebrity cosmetic dentist Dr. Victoria Veytsman (via Page Six). What may have happened is that a permanent retainer was put in “to help keep the teeth in place after her braces got taken off. There was likely a small gap and when the retainer came off, the teeth could [have] drifted together.” Johnson is allegedly on a retainer again, hoping her tooth gap will return. Other celebrities with tooth gaps include Madonna, Michael Strahan, and Anna Paquin.