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What Happens When You Don't Brush Your Teeth?

November 29, 2021

You may believe that skipping a tooth brushing now and again won't harm you.

You shouldn't have any severe dental health difficulties if you forget to push your teeth occasionally. It's best not to make it a habit, though. Brushing and flossing twice a day isn't just advice; it helps to reduce plaque buildup and tooth decay.

Beyond a toothache or cavity, your dental health can contribute to a range of health problems.

Dental Health Problems

Properly taking care of your teeth prevents plaque from building up. Plaque causes a variety of dental problems, and at its beginning stages is practically invisible to an untrained eye.

Cavities

Plaque is made up of bacteria that cause cavities. Those same bacteria can break through your tooth's protective enamel.

If you don't treat a cavity, it can lead to dental infections and, in the worst case, tooth loss. News that's good: Cavities can be prevented by brushing and flossing your teeth often.

Gingivitis

Plaque can hurt the gums and lead to gingivitis, which is a type of gum disease that can lead to tooth loss. Plaque is made up of microorganisms that irritate and inflame gums. Will be red, sensitive, and bleed more often. If you have gingivitis, your gums may recede, which can cause your teeth to fall out. 

Periodontitis

In the same way that plaque leads to cavities, gingivitis leads to periodontitis. This is a very bad bone infection that affects the bones that support your teeth. People who have periodontitis are more likely to lose their teeth.

How Long Does Plaque Take to Build?

There is a genetic aspect to dental health. Seeing someone who doesn't care about brushing get away with no cavities may make you angry. You brush your teeth every day, but you have weaker enamel than someone who doesn't care.

When it comes to the health of your teeth, genetics plays a role, but everyone needs to brush. There is no doubt that brushing and flossing keep plaque from building up, which stops other dental problems from happening.

Here is what would happen if you avoid good proper hygiene at different lengths:

One day without brushing:

We can remove plaque by brushing our teeth properly, but the more time we leave it on our teeth, it gets more difficult to remove. When you have plaque on your teeth for 48 hours, it starts to eat away at your dentin. Once plaque hardens, it turns into tartar, which needs to be scraped off by a professional.

One week without brushing:

As soon as a week goes by, your teeth' enamel will start to break down. The plaque that hasn't been removed will make it easy for bad breath to grow. A dirty tooth will make it hard to clean.

You will have a greater chance of getting cavities if you don't brush your teeth for a week. There is also a good chance that the plaque will start to hurt your gums, which will make them hurt and hurt.

Continued poor brushing habits:

If you don't brush your teeth or brush haphazardly for a year, you're likely to have a lot of dental problems. All of these things will happen to you.

It can also cause other health problems in your body, like an infection or high blood pressure, if you don't clean your teeth properly.

Proper Oral Hygiene

It's not always easy to agree on what constitutes good dental care. ADA's recommendations are a good thing to follow, so that's what you should do. The American Dental Association has some tips for how to properly care for your teeth every day:

Brush

Brush your teeth twice a day with a toothpaste that has fluoride in it to keep them from getting cavities. Brush your teeth for at least two minutes to make sure you get rid of as much plaque as possible.

Make sure you don't put too much pressure on your gums, because this can hurt them.

Floss

Every day, you should floss. If you don't like flossing, think about water flossing as an alternative. If you want to keep your teeth healthy, you might have to make flossing a habit.

Visit Your Dentist

Call your dentist and set up a time to meet. You should visit your dentist at least once every six months.

Some dentists might tell you to go to them more often. In people who have had cavities before, have gum disease, or are at risk of getting gum disease, this is especially important to remember

Use Proper Equipment

Switching from a manual to an electric toothbrush can make a big difference in your dental health. Electric toothbrushes help people brush for the right length of time with their timer settings and are better at removing plaque.

If you don't want to spend money on an electric toothbrush, make sure you use a soft bristle brush and brush your teeth in a circle.

Have a Healthy Diet

Dental decay can be prevented by eating a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables and cutting back on foods that are high in sugar, like soda.

Dental Cleanings & Checkups

If you forget to brush your teeth from time to time, don't worry. You'll be fine.

But don't forget that brushing your teeth at least twice a day, flossing once a day, and going to the dentist at least twice a year can help keep your teeth healthy.

Your teeth will be healthy if you have dental checkups every few months. It's easier to treat cavities and gum disease if they're found early on. You may not even need to fill some of your teeth with fillings if you find them early enough!

Dental cleanings will help get rid of hard-to-reach plaque and tartar. Professional teeth whitening is always a good choice if you want to make cosmetic changes.

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