You’ve probably seen the meme. It’s a high-res photo of Nick Jonas smiling, his teeth looking perfectly white and straight, except for one glaring detail that fans have pointed out for nearly a decade. If you count them up, it really looks like there’s a third tooth right in the middle of his upper jaw.
It’s one of those "once you see it, you can't unsee it" situations.
The Nick Jonas three front teeth conspiracy theory has lived a thousand lives on Reddit, Twitter (X), and TikTok. Honestly, it’s kind of wild how much staying power a dental observation can have. But is it actually a medical anomaly, or just a trick of the light?
The Viral Origin of the Third Tooth
The obsession basically exploded back in 2015 when a Buzzfeed article pointed out that the Scream Queens star appeared to have a "supernumerary" tooth. In layman's terms? An extra one.
Usually, humans have two central incisors. Those are your big "bunny" teeth in the middle. Then you have the lateral incisors next to them. In Nick’s case, the alignment is so tight and the teeth are so similar in size that his right lateral incisor seems to have migrated toward the center.
This creates the visual of three uniform teeth sitting front and center.
People lost their minds. Some fans felt it made him "more human," while others were just genuinely confused by the geometry of his mouth. It’s not like he’s hiding a secret; he smiles constantly. But because he’s a global superstar, every millimeter of his face is under a digital microscope.
What Nick Jonas Actually Says About His Smile
Nick hasn't stayed silent about the rumors. In fact, he’s been pretty blunt.
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During an interview with People magazine, he finally addressed the Nick Jonas three front teeth theory head-on. He admitted that his teeth are just "kind of messed up" in a way that creates an optical illusion. He doesn't actually have a rare medical condition involving extra bone growth in his gums.
"I don’t. I just have kind of messed up teeth if it looks like I have three front teeth," he told the outlet.
He seemed more amused than annoyed. It’s understandable. If the internet spent a decade counting your teeth, you’d probably find it a bit weird too. He also joked about it on MTV’s Girl Code Live, where even the hosts were trying to count them in real-time.
The Science of the "Triple" Smile
Dentists have actually weighed in on this because, well, that’s what happens when a celebrity goes viral for a physical trait.
Dr. Jennifer Bone, a dentist who spoke with People, explained that it’s likely a combination of symmetry and positioning. Typically, your front two teeth are the stars of the show, and the ones next to them are slightly smaller.
In Nick’s mouth, his lateral incisor is positioned slightly forward.
Because it’s pushed forward and is nearly the same size as his central incisors, the light hits all three teeth equally. This eliminates the natural shadows that usually define where one tooth ends and another begins.
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It’s basically the dental version of that "blue dress or gold dress" debate. Your brain wants to see symmetry, so it groups the three teeth together as a single unit.
Is it Polydontia?
Some armchair doctors on the internet love to use the word hyperdontia. This is a real condition where people grow extra teeth. While it only affects about 1% to 4% of the population, it usually results in teeth growing in weird places, like the roof of the mouth or behind other teeth.
If Nick had an extra tooth, it would likely cause massive crowding issues that would require intense orthodontic work to fix. Looking at his childhood photos from the Disney Channel days, his smile has always had this unique structure.
That Infamous 2020 Grammy Moment
If the three-tooth theory wasn't enough, the "spinach incident" at the 2020 Grammys cemented Nick's teeth in pop culture history forever.
While performing "What a Man Gotta Do" with Joe and Kevin, a very visible piece of green debris—likely spinach or some other leaf from breakfast—was stuck right in the middle of those famous front teeth.
The internet didn't just notice; it trended globally.
Nick, being the pro that he is, handled it with total grace. He tweeted, "At least you all know I eat my greens." It was a reminder that even when you have millions of dollars and a professional styling team, sometimes you still walk onto a world stage with salad in your teeth.
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Later, on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, he revealed that his brothers knew about it and didn't tell him. Typical sibling behavior, even when you're a multi-platinum boy band.
Why We Still Talk About It in 2026
In an era of "Turkey Teeth" and ultra-perfect, blindingly white veneers, Nick Jonas’s smile is actually a breath of fresh air. It’s real. It’s slightly asymmetrical. It’s got character.
Most celebrities today opt for the "piano key" look—perfectly straight, perfectly uniform, and often a little bit soul-less. Nick has clearly had dental work over the years (you don't get that level of brightness without some professional help), but he hasn't opted to "fix" the very thing that makes his smile recognizable.
There's something relatable about a guy who is married to Priyanka Chopra and sells out stadiums but still has a "messed up" tooth alignment that confuses the entire internet.
Actionable Insights for Your Own Smile
If you’ve been staring at Nick’s teeth and wondering about your own alignment, there are a few things to keep in mind. You don't need a celebrity budget to manage similar "optical illusions" in your own mouth.
- Check for Crowding: If you feel like your teeth are shifting toward the center, it’s usually a sign that your wisdom teeth are pushing things around or your retainers aren't doing their job.
- Embrace Character: Modern cosmetic dentistry is moving away from the "perfect" look toward "natural" aesthetics. If you have a slightly larger lateral incisor like Nick, many dentists now recommend keeping it rather than grinding it down for a veneer.
- The Spinach Test: Always check your teeth in your phone’s front-facing camera before a big meeting or a date. If Nick Jonas can get caught with greens in his teeth at the Grammys, it can happen to anyone.
- Consult a Pro: If you actually suspect you have an extra tooth (hyperdontia), an X-ray is the only way to know for sure. Most cases are harmless but can be removed if they cause pain or crowding.
The mystery of the Nick Jonas three front teeth isn't really a mystery anymore—it's just a quirk of anatomy that happens to look fascinating in high-definition. Whether it's two teeth, three teeth, or a bit of spinach, it hasn't stopped him from becoming one of the biggest stars on the planet.
To keep your own smile in top shape, focus on gum health and regular cleanings rather than chasing "perfect" symmetry. After all, a little bit of dental "character" is exactly what makes a smile memorable.