While falling asleep before brushing your teeth is something that can easily happen, it is not something that we would recommend getting into the habit of. Have you ever wondered why it is recommended to brush your teeth twice a day? It is one of the first things we do in the morning, and last things we do at night. So why is it so important? Let’s delve into what actually happens if you stop brushing your teeth.
Bad Breath
If you stop brushing your teeth, food particles will remain in your mouth, on your tongue and in between your teeth. This promotes the growth of bad bacteria in your mouth. This bacteria releases bad odours which in turn leads to bad breath. Morning breath will stretch into your entire day, and will get worse and worse everyday you don’t brush your teeth. Bad breath can be embarrassing, and not enjoyable for others to be around you. Make sure you cut out this possible effect by continuing to brush your teeth every day.
Tooth Decay
One of the main reasons we brush our teeth is to remove the build up of bacteria in our mouth. If we don’t remove this bacteria, it will feed on the food particles left in our mouth. It then releases an acidic substance that will cause damage to your tooth enamel. This build up of bacteria on your teeth is called plaque, which I am sure you have all heard of. By brushing your teeth every day, plaque will not have the chance to build-up and cause havoc with your teeth.
Gum Disease
Over time the build up of plaque hardens into a super plaque which irritate the gums. This can cause bleeding and inflammation. However, as this may not be painful, it can be easy to ignore. This is a warning sign for what is coming next. Periodontitis is a severe form of gum disease. Periodontal disease can spread into your jaw causing your gums to pull away from your teeth. This creates more space that can be easily infected. As your immune system tries to fight off this infection, it starts to break down the tissue and bone surrounding the area. This in time will lead to teeth loss and will be very painful.
General Health Issues
Not brushing your teeth has a huge impact on your oral health. It can also have a serious knock on effect on the rest of your health. In a recent study, people with periodontal disease were five times more likely to develop a chronic kidney disease than people with good oral health. On top of this, there has been many studies carried out that have suggested the link of poor oral health to diseases such as dementia.
People with periodontal disease were five times more likely to develop a chronic kidney disease than people with good oral health.
Tips to Motivate Yourself to Brush your Teeth Everyday
Tooth loss and the pain that comes with it is something that we all want to prevent. Here are some tips to help you get into a good oral hygiene routine:
- Keep your toothbrush and toothpaste in a place where you will see them to remind you to use them every morning and every night.
- Set an alarm – if you find yourself forgetting to brush your teeth, create an alarm so you won’t forget.
- Brush your teeth at the same time everyday. This will help you form the habit and allow it to become apart of your daily routine.
- Make it fun – we know we should brush our teeth twice a day, 2 minutes at a time. That two minutes can seem to go on forever. Why not play your favourite song to make the time go faster, and make the task seem less of a chore?
- Reward yourself – Reward yourself with something nice if you stick to your routine for a specific amount of time. Decide how long you need to carry out your routine, and decide on your reward in advance. Tell a friend, or a member of your family so they can keep you motivated and make sure you have earned your reward.
All of the above issues are easily avoidable. We have said it before, and we will say it again… brush your teeth twice a day, and use interdental brushes once a day to get rid of food particles and harmful bacteria. It is also so important to book in with your dentist for a check up and teeth cleaning every 6 months to avoid poor oral health.
