When it comes to a show like Survivor, anything can happen, particularly to its contestants. After twenty years on the air and currently airing its 48th season, the audience has seen all kinds of situations play out for the castaways, from players starving on deserted locations since day one to them suffering sunburns, scraps, bruises, dislocated shoulders, and even medical evacuations due to heatstroke, burns, and possibly injected injuries. However, the lack of hygiene out there on the island is definitely one of the most unsanitary and honestly unsafe aspects of playing the greatest game in the world.
Survivor 48 contestant Charity Nelms recently disclosed on her Instagram account that she's been dealing with cavities ever since her stint on the game. More specifically, Charity said she needed to have five cavities filled due to a lack of access to hygienic products and for being unable to brush her teeth.
Charity also shared that it's been quite strenuous to cover the cost of this procedure herself:
"I just found out that on top of the $1,400 I paid out of pocket because my dental insurance is maxed out, I have another five cavities I have to pay out of pocket for."
While Charity's placement in the game isn't known yet, it's safe to say she had no access to hygienic products while in Fiji at all. Multiple players and even the show's host, Jeff Probst, have been vocal about the rules, where it's stated no personal hygiene products are allowed on the island. In an interview for People, the Emmy-winning host mentioned items such as toothbrushes, toilet paper, soap, and other similar products aren't allowed. The only exceptions are contacts, feminine products, and specific approved medications.
Charity then revealed that the fruit platter her tribe won as a reward in the latest episode might have also contributed to her dental nightmare.
"[The fruit platter] which just sits on your teeth and rots! And so I love paying $3,000 basically worth of out-of-pocket uninsured, no more dental coverage for my teeth."
As for former players, several have shared that people in the game also tend to have terrible breath; for instance, Rick Devenes said, "You try not to breathe in each other's face too much," or as David Wright stated, "Obviously see a dentist the second you get back to civilization."
Malcolm Freberg also expressed that people tend to lose their sense of smell on the island, as everyone starts to smell foul, regardless, but that cameramen will tell the players they stink after they finish playing. While it's part of the game that players must leave behind all kinds of luxuries, the contestants should be allowed to brush their teeth.
Since Charity's confession, there have been many comments and opinions on social media. However, fellow Survivor 48 contestant Saiounia "Sai" Hughley is the one interaction who certainly takes the proverbial cake. In response to a screenshot of Charity's Instagram story, Sai tweeted, "Cm'on now we can't blame Survivor for everything."
Watch Survivor 48 on Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET on CBS and Paramount+.