Cardi B turns 34 on Sunday 11 October, and I can't think of another celebrity who has been quite so upfront about her teeth. Most stars quietly get veneers and let the internet argue about it. Cardi put hers in a song, and that song went to number one.
The short answer: Cardi B had porcelain veneers. Her dentist told AspireTV they cost $12,500. She referenced fixing her teeth in "Bodak Yellow", which hit No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in October 2017, and she has spoken openly about doing it for her confidence. In 2024, one of those veneers came off while she was eating a bagel. In my view, her story covers the whole lifecycle of veneers in one person: the decision, the cost, the confidence and the upkeep. (I've also written about what to do if a veneer comes off.)
The veneers she put in a No.1 song
Here's what's on the record. In "Bodak Yellow", released in June 2017, Cardi rapped about using her money to get her teeth fixed. By October that year it was No.1 in America, making her only the second solo female rapper to top the Hot 100, after Lauryn Hill.
I love this, and not just as a fan. Cosmetic dentistry usually gets treated like a guilty secret. Cardi made it a lyric. Whatever you think of veneers, that kind of openness makes it easier for everyone else to talk about their teeth without feeling embarrassed.
What she's said about confidence
Cardi has been clear that her teeth were about how she felt, not just how she looked. As quoted by NewBeauty, she said: "If you don't feel comfortable, if you are tired of people talking about you, then go and fix it. Like, it's alright to fix it."
I agree with the spirit of that. It's one of the most common things a dentist hears: people who don't smile in photos, or who cover their mouth when they laugh. Wanting to feel confident about your smile is a completely valid reason to look into treatment.
What I'd add, as the dentist in the room, is that "fix it" can mean lots of things. For some people that's veneers. For plenty of others it's whitening, composite bonding or straightening, which can change a smile a lot while keeping more of the natural tooth. The confidence is the goal. Veneers are just one route to it.
The $12,500 question
Her dentist put the cost at $12,500. That's US pricing, from a celebrity dentist in New York, back in 2017, so I wouldn't use it as a price guide for anyone else.
What I'd want people to take from that number is that veneers are a big investment, and the first set isn't the last bill. The cost of veneers isn't just the day you have them fitted. It's also:
- the check-ups and hygiene visits to keep the teeth underneath healthy
- repairs if one chips or comes loose
- replacing them in the future, because veneers don't last forever
When anyone asks me what veneers cost, my answer is always: what do they cost over twenty years, not just this year?
And then the bagel won
In March 2024, Cardi posted a video showing a gap in her smile and asked why a veneer had come out while she was chewing a hard bagel. She laughed it off, which I loved.
That's not proof her veneers were bad. Veneers are bonded to the front of the tooth, and they're strong when you bite straight down. Twisting, levering and tearing at something tough with your front teeth is exactly what they don't like. Seven years after that No.1, a bagel found the weak moment.
It's a good reminder that veneers are a lid on a real tooth, and that tooth still needs looking after. Brush twice a day, clean between your teeth, don't use your teeth to open things, and tear your crusty bread rather than biting into it. Not glamorous advice, but it's what keeps veneers on.
Nine years on: what Cardi's smile teaches us
If I had to sum up Cardi's veneers in three lessons, it'd be these:
- Confidence is a real reason. You don't need to justify wanting to love your smile.
- The price is never just the first bill. Plan for upkeep and replacement from day one.
- Veneers aren't indestructible. Respect your bagels.
Happy birthday, Cardi. Long may the smile last. Maybe just slice the bagel next time.
This article is general information based on what Cardi B and her dentist have said publicly. Whether any treatment is right for an individual can only be decided after an examination in person. Cardi B has no connection with this article.
