LOS ANGELES • The tooth - or rather truth - is out.

On Monday, during an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, actress Demi Moore revealed that she recently lost two front teeth.

"I'd love to say it was skateboarding or something really kind of cool.... but stress sheared off my front teeth," the 54-year-old said.

She added that she was opening up about the incident because stress is "one of the biggest killers in America".

She had had the problem fixed by "modern dentistry", Fox News quoted her as saying.

The temporary gap was welcomed by her three daughters. "They love seeing me without my teeth because they think it makes me look more vulnerable and more human," said Moore.

But various media have noted that she has looked her stylish best in promoting Rough Night, a comedy that also stars Scarlett Johansson. It will be released in the United States this week.