Charmaine Willoughby from Endeavour Hills, who made headlines last year after speaking out about her addiction to Coca-Cola, shows off her new pearly whites. 31649
By Kelly Yates
AN ENDEAVOUR Hills woman who admitted to drinking up to 36 litres of Coca-Cola each day says she can now smile without having to hide her teeth.
Charmaine Willoughby made headlines in the News last year after speaking about her addiction to Coca-Cola during Triple M’s Pete and Myf breakfast radio show.
The 30-year-old has since had 21 teeth removed and now wears a full new set of teeth which she describes as being “amazing.”
“When I woke up after the surgery I couldn’t believe my teeth,” she said.
“I’ve never smiled as much as I do now.”
Ms Willoughby said one of the first things she did after the dental surgery was bite into an apple.
“I hadn’t bitten into a piece of fruit since I was a child,” she said.
She said her addiction took on a life of its own and almost killed her.
Mrs Willoughby lost two layers of her stomach lining, was diagnosed with several gastric ulcers and had 11 gallstones removed by keyhole surgery.
Her love for the drink started as a craving during her first pregnancy.
She said she would only eat one meal a day and compensate her other meals with bottles of Coca-Cola.
“I had to really manage my money because it was an expensive addiction. My children always came first then it was my Coca-Cola,” she said.
Ms Willoughby quit cold turkey and now drinks 10 to 12 bottles of made up cordial a day to compensate for her body’s craving for sugar.
Now whenever she sees Coca-Cola she says she feels sick in the stomach.
