What happens if you stop brushing your teeth?

We're all familiar with that moment when we’re drifting towards sleep on the couch and can barely muster the energy to drag ourselves to bed. It’s so tempting to walk straight past the bathroom and dive between the sheets. But what happens to our teeth if we skip that nighttime brush every now and again? And on that note, what happens if we stop brushing them at all?

Click through the following gallery to find out why it's essential to brush daily, and the horrible consequences you'll eventually have to deal with if you quit cleaning your teeth altogether.

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Worrying statistics -

It’s recommended that we brush our teeth at least twice daily. However, according to Business Insider, nearly half of the US population doesn’t brush their teeth as often as they should.

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Widespread tooth loss -

In fact, 10% of Americans aged between 50 and 64 have lost all of their teeth! Those are some pretty shocking statistics for one of the most developed countries in the world.

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Why do we brush our teeth? -

The human mouth is filled with bacteria that feed off the sugar and proteins in your food. They excrete a slimy substance called biofilm that covers your teeth.

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Plaque -

This natural but unpleasant film is called plaque. If we don’t brush it away, it can lead to a whole host of health problems for our teeth, our mouths, and much more.

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More than meets the eye -

Plaque is generally invisible to the eye, so even though your teeth may look clean, it doesn’t mean they’re safe from cavities or infection.

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Cavities -

When we don’t brush our teeth properly or frequently enough, plaque tends to lead to cavities. The bacteria in plaque wear away the protective enamel covering the teeth and attack the more vulnerable areas underneath, leaving permanent holes in the tooth.

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From the teeth to the gums -

If left untreated, cavities can lead to a host of infections in the mouth, and even tooth loss! The bacteria can spread into the gums, causing them to become inflamed and infected.

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Gingivitis -

Gingivitis is just one of the unpleasant conditions that can occur as a result. It’s a form of gum disease in which the bacteria in the plaque irritates and inflames the gums, making them swollen and more likely to bleed.

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Rush to defend -

This bacterial invasion of the gums triggers the body’s immune response, sending cells to the area to fight off infection. If this happens continuously for months, it eventually has a negative effect on the healthy tissue and bone in that area, too.

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What next? -

After six months or more of this battle, the tissue and bone cells can become damaged and even die. This leads to a much worse condition than gingivitis.

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Periodontitis -

Periodontal disease, also known as periodontitis, is the next step. It is essentially a severe bone infection.

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The gums loosen their grip -

The degradation of your gum tissue and bone removes the structural support from your teeth, causing the gums to separate from the teeth.

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Further infections -

This creates pockets around the teeth that provide even more space for harmful bacteria to thrive in the mouth.

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Tooth loss -

This allows your gums to become even more infected, and eventually your teeth will start to fall out!

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Beyond the mouth -

As the teeth start to pop out of the gums like a Pez dispenser, there’s a risk that the bacteria terrorizing your mouth will enter your bloodstream and travel to other parts of the body, where they can cause even further damage.

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Kidney disease - Those with periodontal disease are 4.5 times more likely to suffer from kidney disease than those with healthy gums.

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Dementia and tooth decay -

Research has shown that people who suffer from dementia tend to experience more dental health issues such as tooth decay. However, it’s not just a one-way street.

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Tooth decay and dementia -

There is actually research to suggest that the reverse may be true, and that poor dental hygiene might increase the risk of dementia. A study of the residents in a retirement community showed that those who didn’t brush their teeth were at 65% greater risk of developing dementia.

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Theories about inflammation -

Researchers were able to point to a potential link between inflammatory diseases in the mouth such as periodontitis and inflammation in the brain that can cause dementia. However, there is no conclusive evidence at this point.

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Heart disease -

In addition to your brain, poor oral hygiene can also impact the health of your heart. A study by the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology found that those who brush their teeth three times a day are less likely to experience atrial fibrillation and heart failure.

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Heart disease -

The researchers also found that those who go for regular checkups at the dentist are less likely to have heart-related complications. They concluded that missing teeth were linked to an increased risk of heart health issues like atrial fibrillation and heart failure.

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The timeline -

So, those are all the unpleasant and dangerous things that can happen if you don’t brush your teeth. But how long does it take to reach each stage?

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Research limitations -

As you can imagine, there aren’t a lot of people who are willing to participate in a study to see what happens if you don’t brush your teeth for a long time! However, research allows us to make a pretty solid prediction (and it ain’t pretty).

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One day -

For most people, missing one day is about the worst that could happen. This might not seem like a big deal, but dental plaque can actually start to damage the tooth in less than 48 hours.

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One day -

If plaque is left on the teeth for this short amount of time, it can already start to decalcify the tooth underneath the protective enamel. We have a surprisingly short window to remove the plaque from our teeth before it does damage.

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One week -

So, one day can already be a problem, but what about an entire week? The plaque’s destruction will progress during this time, and can also have an additional side effect: bad breath.

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One week -

The food that is normally washed away would continue to build up in the nooks and crannies as the amount of plaque in your mouth grows. Your teeth would start to feel “woolly.”

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One year -

After a full year without brushing your teeth, there’s no doubt that your mouth would feel like a dumpster! In regards to more serious health issues, you’d be experiencing gum disease, tooth decay, and probably tooth loss at this point.

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The takeaway -

Luckily, it’s not too hard to avoid this terrible tooth fate. Brushing twice a day, flossing once a day, and going to the dentist for a checkup a couple of times a year is the formula to oral health for most.