We’re about 99% certain your eyes rolled when you saw the title of this post. Parents, dentists and just about every other adult growing up instilled in you the importance of brushing your teeth twice a day. It was something that rain, hail or shine, absolutely had to be done, lest you suffer the consequences.
Rest assured, we’re not here to lecture and we’re not here to preach. We’re here to simply shed some light on what those ‘consequences’ are. We certainly get it though, if you’ve had a rushed morning or a particularly big night, giving your teeth a once-over can be an easy task to forget. That being said, if the forgetfulness becomes a habit, it’s good to know exactly what happens when you skip brushing your teeth.
Bacteria use your mouth as a holiday home
Whether or not your brush your teeth consistently, there is always going to be bacteria in your mouth. However, when they aren’t regularly removed with your tooth brush during your twice-daily routine, the bacteria can build up and eventually become a cause for concern.
A brush is especially essential at night, due to our mouths not producing as much saliva while we sleep. During the day, saliva helps wash away some of the bacteria, but at night, the excess bacteria can actually start munching on leftover food particles in our teeth. We’d essentially be inviting bacteria to a dinner party in our mouths.
But what if I don’t mind hosting bacteria for nightly meals?
Thankfully, this isn’t a question that’s been asked before, ever, but let’s assume it has. What’s the worst that can happen if bacteria is feasting on your leftover dinner while you sleep? When the bacteria is feeding, they’re also releasing extremely acidic substances that can severely damage tooth enamel.
As such, the more frequently you skip brushing your teeth, especially at night, the more your enamel will wear down and deteriorate. This can result in a number of oral health issues, and you’ll be much more susceptible to developing cavities or gum disease.
If that isn’t bad enough, forgetting to brush allows the plaque on your teeth to harden into tartar, which will make it much more difficult to brush and floss effectively. This could also lead you down the unfortunate road of cavities and/or gum disease. Tartar can also cause further complications such as inflammation of the gums, and if left unchecked for long enough, teeth may require removal.
Bad breath, the embarrassing side-effect
With serious oral health issues such as cavities and gum disease, you might think that bad breath is the acceptable side-effect of leaving your teeth uncleaned.
With the health of our teeth at stake, we should certainly try and find a few minutes every morning and every night to give our teeth a well-deserved clean. After all, we only get one set of teeth (two if you count your baby ones!), and we should take every measure to ensure we have them for as long as possible.
If you think you’re in need of a check-up or would like to give your teeth a thorough cleaning, give us a call on (03) 9041 5301 or book an appointment online!
