Dental Advices Provided to you by: Brite Medical Center
You’re super tired at night, and you think if you skip brushing your teeth this once, it can’t be that bad… right?
It’s not the end of the world if you skip brushing your teeth every once in a while, but there are definitely some reasons why you need to remember to brush twice a day.
Keep reading to find out more about what happens if you don’t brush your teeth and how you can optimize your oral hygiene routine.
Your mouth can be the gateway to several health problems that extend beyond a toothache or cavity.
The following are some potential problems for your teeth — and the rest of your body — that can happen if you don’t brush your teeth.
The brushing and overall care of your teeth help to remove plaque that’s often invisible to your eyes.
Plaque is a sticky film that coats the teeth and contains bacteria that can penetrate the protective enamel of your teeth, attacking the more vulnerable layers underneath. This leads to cavities.
If left untreated, cavities can lead to dental infections and, potentially, tooth loss. All of this is, for the most part preventable, if you brush your teeth and maintain good oral hygiene.
Plaque can do more than cause cavities in the teeth — they can also weaken the gums and lead to gingivitis, a form of gum disease. The bacteria present in plaque inflame and irritate the gums. The gums become puffy and more likely to bleed.
Just like plaque is a precursor to cavities, gingivitis is a precursor to periodontitis. This is a severe bone infection that impacts the bones that support your teeth. As a result, periodontitis is a leading cause of tooth loss.
Researchers have established that those with dementia often experience dental decay at greater rates.
There is, however, some research to back the idea that dental decay could increase a person’s risk for dementia, according to a research review published in
The researchers reviewed a potential link between inflammatory dental conditions, such as periodontitis, and inflammation in the brain that can lead to conditions such as dementia.
While this review hinted at the possibility that poor dental hygiene causes dementia, there is no evidence that proves there is a connection.
A study published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology found that those who brushed their teeth at least three times per day were less likely to experience atrial fibrillation and heart failure.
Going to the dentist regularly also reduced the likelihood that a person would experience heart-related complications, according to the researchers.
The study also found that a greater number of missing teeth were associated with an increased risk for heart-related conditions, such as atrial fibrillation.
There aren’t many research participants who are eager to give up brushing their teeth for a week or a year, but research can give us a pretty good guess as to what happens if you don’t brush for certain time periods.
Here’s what could happen if you don’t brush for the following durations:
People can have very different views on what constitutes good oral hygiene. Here’s some guidance from the American Dental Association as to how to properly care for your teeth on a daily basis:
While these are the basics of dental hygiene, there are some other steps you can take to keep your teeth and gums as healthy as possible. These include:
You can also talk to your dentist about individual steps you can take to strengthen your teeth, such as dental sealants that can protect your back teeth.
If you forget to brush your teeth every once in a while, don’t panic.
But remember that brushing your teeth at least twice daily, flossing once a day, and visiting your dentist at least twice a year, can be vital to your overall dental health.
A regular toothbrushing routine is important to not only your oral health, but also your overall health.
Last medically reviewed on November 17, 2020
Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.
Current Version
Nov 17, 2020
Written By
Rachel Nall, MSN, CRNA
Edited By
Connor Rice
Medically Reviewed By
Christine Frank, DDS
Copy Edited By
jgokhman
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