Years before her untimely death, friends observed Amy Winehouse‘s teeth were falling out due to her history of substance abuse. The “Rehab” singer passed at age 27 due to accidental alcohol poisoning but had developed an addiction to heroin and cocaine over the years.
Winehouse’s life is the subject of a new biopic Back To Black directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson. The movie showcases her journey in writing her iconic album of the same name, which won five Grammys in 2008; as well as her relationship with Blake Fielder-Civil. “She was out and she was at pubs and at restaurants and, you know, singing when she shouldn’t have been sometimes. And also when she should have been,” actress Marisa Abela, who played the star-studded singer told AP.
Fielder-Civil—who was married to the singer for two years—admitted to introducing Winehouse to heroin early in their relationship. “Of course, I regret it, not just because of the damage it’s caused Amy and the loss of life, but the damage to her family but also to my family and also to me,” he told The Guardian in 2013. Among other negative ways drug use can affect the body, Amy Winehouse‘s teeth suffered pretty severely.
Amy Winehouse’s teeth were “literally falling out”
Trigger warning for those who are particularly squeamish.
In 2007, the Daily Mail reported Winehouse’s mental state was seemingly deteriorating at a time when she was taking “more drugs than ever” despite her family’s pleas to seek help. “Amy is very upset about her teeth because they have literally been falling out,” a source told the paper at the time.
“She has one missing from the front of her mouth, and another one at the back which is less visible. Her mouth is full of holes and she is desperately worried she is going to lose more. She has actually pulled a tooth out herself, which is absolutely disgusting.”
Indeed, in an interview with MTV, Winehouse admitted that “My tooth got knocked out, that’s true,” adding, “I bit down on an ice cube and felt it come loose. I was sitting with my boyfriend and told him he had to pull it out because it was going to come out at some point and would be horrible and bloody. He wouldn’t pull it out, so I had to do it myself.”
According to the American Dental Association, substance abuse can have a significant impact on overall oral health. “When a person is addicted to a drug that causes them to regularly grind their teeth, the action causes them to loosen, fracture, or wear down,” the site reads. “Substance abuse may also lead to chronic malnutrition, as it does with heroin, which can cause decay of the teeth.”
According to Winehouse’s autopsy, the singer had 416mg of alcohol per decilitre in her blood, enough to make her comatose and depress her respiratory system. She was found in her bed with a laptop and bottles of vodka on the floor. Coroner Shirley Radcliffe ruled out any possibility of a suspicious death and said the singer “voluntarily consumed alcohol—a deliberate act that took an unexpected turn and led to her death.”
Her parents Mitch and Janis Winehouse released a statement after the findings. “It is some relief to finally find out what happened to Amy. We understand there was alcohol in her system when she passed away; it is likely a build up of alcohol in her system over a number of days. The court heard that Amy was battling hard to conquer her problems with alcohol and it is a source of great pain to us that she could not win in time,” her parents said.
Upon regular checkups, Christina Romete told the court that she saw Winehouse the night before her death. Per BBC, She recalled that she was“tipsy” but “calm” and coherent and “able to hold a conversation” during the visit. “She didn’t want to die, she was looking forward to the future.”
Winehouse has been open about her struggle with addiction to alcohol and drugs. Her mother said after her death, “Her body couldn’t cope with that amount of alcohol after three weeks of abstinence. It was the lack of consistency, the stopping and starting again. Everyone wishes for a peaceful death. My only comfort is that Amy’s was peaceful. I like to think she went to sleep and just didn’t wake up, so I hope she didn’t suffer.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, help is available. Call the SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) for free, confidential support.
