4 Things That Can Happen If You Don’t Brush Your Teeth Regularly

Brushing your teeth at least twice a day is essential for good dental health. It helps remove food particles and plaque, preventing tooth decay and gum disease. But brushing your teeth regularly is not enough to maintain good dental health. Along with brushing your teeth, you must also floss your teeth daily. This helps remove the pieces of food and plaque that are not removed through brushing. If you are not regular in brushing your teeth, here are a few consequences you may have to face:

Cavities

Plaque that forms on the teeth contains acid-producing bacteria that can lead to cavities if left unchecked. Cavities are a common problem that can cause pain when eating or drinking, and of course, lead to a much-dreaded trip to the dentist’s office for fillings to treat them. Tooth decay can also lead to more serious problems. Decay that reaches the inner layers of the tooth can spread into the soft tissues of the tooth and even to the bone structure beneath the jaw. This can lead to an infection of the tissues or even loss of the tooth entirely. A lack of proper oral hygiene can cause these issues. 

Bad Breath

Halitosis is the technical term for chronic bad breath caused by poor oral hygiene practices. This is a condition that should not be ignored because, if left untreated, it can result in serious dental health issues. The mouth is a dark, warm, and moist environment that is an ideal breeding ground for the millions of bacteria that live in the mouth. These bacteria feed off of food debris on teeth and produce sulfur compounds as a byproduct of digestion. As the bacteria work to break down these particles, they produce a foul odor that can be extremely unpleasant. This can be off-putting to those you speak to on a regular basis and will eventually result in the loss of friends and family who want to avoid even being near you.

By brushing your teeth at least twice a day and flossing once a day, you can reduce the amount of food debris in your mouth and help keep your mouth healthy. This includes not only keeping away the bacteria that cause bad breath but also preventing them from attacking tooth enamel and causing tooth decay. 

Gum Disease

If your gums are swollen or inflamed, you could have gingivitis. This is a common form of gum disease and can lead to the deterioration of your jawbone and eventual tooth loss. Luckily, there are also treatments for this condition that can restore the health of your mouth and help restore your teeth.

Gingivitis is caused by plaque buildup on your teeth. If you don’t brush regularly, the plaque can build up and cause an infection in your gums. This infection can cause bleeding and inflammation of your gums. Over time, this could lead to the loss of tissue and bone that support your teeth.

By brushing regularly, you can prevent gum disease from ever developing in your mouth. However, if you do notice that you are beginning to have symptoms, you should visit your dental office as soon as possible. If the disease is caught early, it can be easily treated with great success. 

Tooth Loss

If you don’t brush your teeth every day, you are at risk of tooth loss.

If you lose your natural teeth due to neglecting them over a long period of time, replacement teeth might be costly. If you do lose your teeth, make sure you replace them as soon as possible. Otherwise, you can experience more problems with your oral health. This includes an increased risk of developing gum disease. Gum disease can progress into an infection that can harm the bone in your jaw and cause a premature need for tooth replacement.