Jenny McCarthy is recovering after a year marked by serious health challenges stemming from complications related to oral surgery and a failed dental implant.
The 53-year-old Masked Singer judge revealed in an interview with People, published Wednesday, November 26, that she has undergone nine surgeries on her mouth this year due to a severe and recurring infection.
“I had one infection that turned into another and another,” McCarthy said, adding that unusual growths also appeared on her eyes during the ordeal.
According to McCarthy, the health crisis began after a ceramic dental implant failed, causing her to lose several teeth. Doctors later discovered a deep infection in her jawbone that required extensive surgical intervention.
“My teeth were falling out, implants falling out,” she said. “They finally had to dig into my jawbone and chip away, and found a deep bone infection.”
McCarthy has been on antibiotics for nearly a year and was restricted to eating only soft foods due to stitches inside her mouth. While she is now able to chew again, she remains cautious, as the infection repeatedly returned after appearing to clear.
“Every time we thought it was gone, it came back,” she said, describing severe jaw swelling and intense pain. “People should actually feel a little sorry for me.”
Despite her health struggles, McCarthy recently released her annual holiday card with husband Donnie Wahlberg. In the photo, she appeared in a red bikini, showing noticeable weight loss. She later clarified that the weight loss was due to her inability to eat properly and noted that she underwent two additional mouth surgeries after the photo was taken.
“I’ve been pretty unlucky,” she said.
Earlier this year, McCarthy also disclosed that she has been dealing with Hashimoto’s disease, a chronic autoimmune thyroid condition, as well as leaky gut syndrome. In an effort to manage her health, she attempted a vegan diet but said it worsened her condition.
“I tried vegan and I almost died,” she said on a March episode of the Heal Squad podcast, citing extreme fatigue and illness.
McCarthy explained that dietary restrictions related to celiac disease, dairy intolerance, and a soy allergy made a plant-based diet unsustainable for her. After consulting her doctor, she transitioned to a full carnivore diet, which she said significantly improved her health.
“It felt like a last resort,” she said. “But it has been incredible for me — and I stress, for me.”
McCarthy emphasized that dietary choices should be individualized, noting that what works for one person may not work for another.