Hollywood stars these days all seem to sport dazzling, perfectly straight smiles. But this wasn’t always the case, and you might be surprised by how many celebrities started their careers with imperfect teeth. Even blockbuster legend and Mission: Impossible star Tom Cruise had teeth with visible malocclusions or misalignments.
Keep reading to learn more about the Top Gun headliner’s journey to a brighter, straighter smile. His treatments have included invisible dental aligners and, famously, ceramic braces, which he wore on the red carpet of the Minority Report premiere in 2002. Plus, find out how to improve your smile without waiting as long as this actor did.
Why Tom Cruise’s teeth are a popular topic
You may wonder why Tom Cruise’s teeth are such a popular topic in gossip rags and even worldwide dental and orthodontic websites. One reason is that, unlike many celebrities who had cosmetic dentistry done before they made the A-List, Cruise’s journey to better teeth alignment has spanned his career as a leading man.
Chipped teeth as Steve Randle in The Outsiders
The dental problems in his early career included crooked, broken, and discoloured teeth. The actor even made them part of his look as Steve Randle in the 1983 movie The Outsiders. It’s rumoured the actor was so committed to the role that he removed the cap from a front tooth he’d previously chipped in a hockey match.
Over the years, the actor has taken steps to correct his teeth, and it’s even speculated he had jaw surgery as well. There’s a visible improvement in Tom Cruise’s teeth alignment if you compare photos of his smile over time. And he hasn’t hidden his efforts, wearing his braces not just in public, but at highly publicised events.
Tom Cruise got braces at 40
After the then-40-year-old action star showed up to the Minority Report premiere sporting ‘train tracks,’ he went on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, showed off his braces and talked frankly about his decision to get orthodontic treatment.
Although the actor’s story makes his decision to get braces sound spontaneous, it was likely part of an on-going discussion with his orthodontist. Still, Cruise recounts, ‘I didn’t tell anyone. I was there, and he said, you know, “You want to get these things?” and I said okay. We put them on and I came home and I had braces.’
When asked how the people in his life reacted, he said then-girlfriend Penelope Cruz had no complaints, though there was more of a reaction from his family. ‘The kids went, “What?”’ he recounted with a laugh. ‘I think they thought it was weird, and then they thought it was cool.’
He mentioned his braces would come off before he would start shooting his next movie. It’s rumoured he chose to use ceramic braces and clear aligners to ensure he could continue with his career while getting treatment for his misaligned teeth.
Still, his openness about his orthodontic work have helped others see that it’s never too late to straighten your smile.
And if you doubt that people are interested in one actor’s teeth, when Leno joked that Cruise should put his braces up for an online auction, the actor laughed and said it would be weird, but admitted that ‘someone had my teeth from Interview with the Vampire made, and, I don’t know, I find that strange.’
Does Tom Cruise have a tooth gap?
The most notorious issue with Tom Cruise’s teeth is the asymmetry of his smile. While not noticeable at a glance, a closer look at his smile shows a dental midline shift or drift, where the line between his front teeth doesn’t match the centre of his nose and eyebrows.
That is to say, if you were to draw a vertical line down most people’s faces, you would find two front teeth, or incisors, on either side of the line. But Tom Cruise’s teeth alignment skews a bit to the left, so that one of his front teeth is right in the centre of that midline.
Dental midline shift is a problem for those looking to perfect their smiles as studies show more symmetrical faces that conform to ideal proportions are considered more appealing.
One possible reason for this is that he may have had tooth gaps, either having been born with them or lost a tooth early in life without replacing it. Or he may have other issues that caused the midline shift—teeth misalignments like underbites, overbites, crossbites, and overcrowding can contribute to the drift.
How to get your teeth straightened like Tom Cruise
How can you repair problems with teeth shifting or misaligned teeth or prevent malocclusion in the first place? Not everyone is a Hollywood celebrity with a net worth in the millions. Treatments like the ones Tom Cruise has had can come with a hefty price tag and discomfort.
Or at least they did—modern orthodontic treatments have become much less painful for your mouth and wallet in the 20-plus years since Tom Cruise had his teeth alignment work done.
Keep reading for tips on keeping your smile straight and bright.
How to keep your teeth straight
Whether you already use dental aligners or not, take steps to prevent your teeth from shifting. Some things you can do include:
- Practising good dental hygiene. Teeth can shift because of gum disease or issues like tooth extraction or loss, causing gaps. Maintaining proper oral hygiene will help you avoid these dental issues. Brush and floss regularly to remove dental plaque.
- Maintaining a healthy diet. Consuming the wrong foods and drinks can lead to tooth decay, so eat and drink your way to healthier teeth and avoid anything overly sweet or acidic.
- Seeing your dentist for regular check-ups. Schedule dental visits twice a year, or annually at the very least, to maintain that smile. Apart from thoroughly cleaning your teeth, your dentist will assess your teeth and gum health and identify and address any issues before they become bigger problems.
- Avoiding or stopping bad dental habits. Grinding your teeth, biting your nails, and other bad habits can damage teeth and gums. Left untreated, these habits can lead to issues that can cause your teeth to shift.
- Wearing aligners correctly. If you’re already using aligners to straighten your smile, it’s best to follow your dentist’s and orthodontist’s instructions on how to wear and clean them correctly. This ensures your best chance at a successful treatment.
How to correct a misaligned smile
The key to fixing misaligned teeth is finding out what caused them in the first place. You’ll want to consult your dental health practitioner to assess the causes and suggest possible solutions for your dental problems.
Your dentist or orthodontist will help you choose the right aligners for you. After all, investing in your smile can go a long way to building your confidence.
Even if you have had aligners before, it doesn’t mean you won’t need them again later in life, and you might even need them for a completely different kind of alignment. A European Journal of Orthodontics study showed that while teeth movement even years after completing an orthodontic treatment is common, as much as 25% of this involves changes from natural growth rather than a relapse of the original issue.
To mimic Tom Cruise in keeping your teeth alignment process discreet, you may want to consider invisible dental aligners like ClearCorrect for maximum comfort and aesthetics. Thanks to their cutting-edge engineering that features a high, flat, unscalloped trimline and use of a resilient tri-layer ClearQuartz material, these aligners gently but firmly push your smile into place.
Ready for Tom Cruise-level teeth? Take our smile assessment to start.
Lessons from Tom Cruise’s teeth alignment journey
Tom Cruise’s dental midline shift is a much less noticeable imperfection thanks to his efforts to makeover his smile. Photos of Tom Cruise’s teeth before and after his orthodontic treatment show his smile still isn’t perfectly symmetrical.
But slight imperfections might even add to appeal. In Cruise’s case, he continues to be a shining example of a typically attractive Hollywood celebrity. He was even named People Magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive in 1990, over a decade before he got his aligners.
Also, take the fact that he continued to improve his smile even in his 40s and beyond as inspiration that it’s never too late to try to look your best—we’re sure he and other celebrities still undergo regular cosmetic dentistry treatments like teeth whitening.
Remember, no trait is as attractive as a confident smile.
References:
Abdulraheem, S., Schütz-Fransson, U., and Bjerklin, K. (27 January 2020). Teeth movement 12 years after orthodontic treatment with and without retainer: relapse or usual changes? European Journal of Orthodontics, 42(1):52-59.
Harun, N. A., Adam, K. B. C., Abdullah, N. A., & Rusli, N. (June 2023). Is a symmetrical face really attractive? International Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, 52(6), 703–709.
Australian Society of Orthodontists. (18 December 2023). Celebrities with braces: Before and after. Orthodontics Australia
Australian Society of Orthodontists. (12 July 2024). Teeth shifting: Signs, causes, prevention, and treatment. Orthodontics Australia
Closer Weekly. (19 April 2021). Tom Cruise has one of Hollywood’s most famous smiles! The story behind his ‘middle tooth.’
People. (08 November 2023). All the Sexiest Man Alive Covers.
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (20 June 2002). Season 10, Episode 102. NBC. Big Dog Productions, Universal Television.
