What Would Happen if You Stopped Brushing Your Teeth?

We have all gotten into bed after a long day just to realize we forgot to brush your teeth! It can’t be that bad if we just skip it, right? While we can all relate, you do not want to make this a regular habit!

If you only brush and floss in the morning, you will be faced with some serious consequences. In order to keep a clean bill of health, we recommended that our patients brush and floss twice a day and visit their dentist twice a year.

You Can Develop Gum Disease

Gingivitis affects more than half of Americans. If you are part of this statistic, you will need to visit your dentist every three months, instead of six, to ensure you aren’t promoting super plaque.

Super plaque is plaque on steroids. It develops around your gum line and hardens into tartar, which makes it harder to clean in between your teeth. When super plaque reaches an all-time high, your gums become irritated and you develop gingivitis.

Gingivitis is a silent killer because it doesn’t necessarily cause discomfort. Because of this, gum disease goes untreated. When we don’t properly tend to this issue, pockets form at the base of our teeth, allowing plaque to create a cozy existence in our mouths. Translation: more plaque, more problems. You become qualified to experience discolored teeth, swollen gums, and a serious form of gum disease called periodontitis.

Your Breath Will Stink

Halitosis is the technical term for bad breath and unfortunately, 65% of American’s suffer from this embarrassing scenario.

Imagine what happens when we forget to clean the leftovers out of the fridge. That 14-day old dish starts to stink when we forget about it! Bad breath is similar; it exists when we ignore our oral health.

Your Teeth Could Fall Out

Tooth loss is common for Americans that suffer from gum disease; American’s aged 20-64 experience an average of 7 missing teeth! This nightmare occurs when periodontitis spreads to your jaw. Eventually, your gums will pull away from your teeth and create space for infection. With time, the bones and tissue around your teeth will weaken, which can cause your teeth to fall out.

You Could Develop Other Health Problems

Bacteria loves when you ignore it; it will multiply and spread throughout your body, which can cause numerous other health issues. Some common disease linked to poor oral hygiene include:

• Diabetes: It’s common for those who suffer from diabetes to suffer from periodontitis. It is especially important to take care of your teeth if you are a diabetic, as gum infections can cause your blood sugar to rise!
• Heart Disease: Bacteria can sneak into your blood stream and into your heart, leading to inflammation and heart problems.
• Pneumonia: Respiratory infections can occur when you inhale airborne bacteria from your mouth.

Now that you know what can happen if you don’t brush and floss, we hope you take the extra time to incorporate this practice twice a day!