Oral hygiene is of great importance for a person's general health and well-being. Visiting a dentist and taking special care of your teeth is one of the easiest ways to avoid dental problems.
But have you ever thought or imagined what the consequences could be if one delays brushing teeth for some time, maybe for a year?
In this article, you are told about the possibility of developing complications from not paying attention to this basic need of life, showing the impact it can have on your oral and overall health.
The first few days: The early stages of gingivitis or gum disease.
Plaque formation is the first to be seen in case of not brushing teeth.
Tartar is a hard deposit of minerals that forms on the surface of your teeth and gums and is covered with a sticky colorless film of bacteria called plaque.
After brushing your teeth, it develops in a few hours. In the early days, you may feel a silky feeling on your teeth, which is called plaque formation.
Plaque is full of germs that can metabolize the sugars in the food products you eat.
When you ingest these sugars they release acids that corrode your teeth leading to the first stage of decay.
If this is not removed by brushing, it forms tartar, which is a very hard substance that can only be cleaned by a dentist.
One Month Without Brushing: Gingivitis Sets In
Gum inflammation is inflammation of the gums, and it will certainly happen after a month of not brushing teeth because plaque builds up on the surface of the teeth and damages the gums.
Gingivitis is the term for the early stages of gum disease. Your gums may become abnormal, they will become red, swollen, and you may experience bleeding while eating or drinking.
In light of this, gingivitis may be regarded as a serious dental condition in cases where it is detected and treated promptly.
However, if this case is left unchecked, it can develop into the advanced stages of gum disease. So, you might also realize that it is a case of halitosis, as bacteria and food particles between your teeth and gums cause this smell.
Not brushing for six months: When it reaches the third stage, it is called advanced gum disease or tooth decay.
If one does not brush their teeth for six months, the condition gets worse. This will further damage your gums due to plaque and tartar accumulation leading to inflammation and a form of gum disease called periodontitis.
Pockets of germs are created when periodontitis kills gum tissue and pushes it away from the teeth.
During this stage you may find that the teeth begin to shift and become loose. This is because the infection reaches such an extent that it destroys the natural tooth support for your teeth.
Another sign will be on the teeth as the enamel will be damaged leading to cavities and decay can reach deeper into the dentin layer.
At this point, the condition worsens and your bad breath will become very noticeable, although you will have a persistent bad taste in your mouth as a result of the bacterial growth.
The loss of teeth and gums at this stage is painful and may be lifelong.
Going without brushing for a year: Oral health and especially tooth loss is linked to a dire health problem.
If someone does not brush teeth for a year, it can have serious and even lifelong consequences.
Alveolar periodontitis is the last stage of gum disease and; it affects the stability of teeth and damages teeth where some teeth may fall out on their own or may need to be removed.
But if you ignore oral hygiene, the impact is not just limited to the mouth. Bacteria caused by periodontitis can travel from the infected gum area into the bloodstream leading to other physical health complications.
Studies have shown that poor oral health is linked to life-threatening diseases including heart disease, stroke, diabetes and respiratory infections.
Premature birth and low birth weight kids are also more common in women with these issues.
Psychological and social effects caused by poor oral hygiene
Apart from the health factors that poor oral hygiene causes to people, psychological and social effects are also felt.
Halitosis, discoloration and decay of teeth, and tooth decay can affect a person's self-esteem and make him avoid social interactions, which can lead to depression.
Thus, you may feel uncomfortable speaking in public, attending interviews or even going on dates due to the condition of your mouth.
The social effects that come with bad breath lead to lowered self-esteem, distancing from social life and it also affects a person's work front.
Recovery: Can anything be done after not brushing your teeth for a year?
If you have not been brushing your teeth for a year, it is not too late to do so, but going to the dental clinic will take time and effort, reports Mercury.
The first step that needs to be taken is to visit the dentist for a check-up and scale and cleaning. Your dentist will clean off tartar build-up, examine the area for signs of infection and evaluate the severity of the problem.
More severe forms of this disease are called advanced periodontitis, in which you may need the help of a specialist, a periodontist.
This may include treatments such as scaling and root planing or the removal of plaque and tartar below the gum line, the use of antibiotics and, in severe situations, surgery to rebuild damaged gum tissue and bone.
Other dental diseases such as cavities and tooth decay will require fillings, crowning or even root canals or extraction in the worst case scenario.
In the case of missing teeth, dentures, bridges or even implants need to be used so that the mouth and teeth can regain their functionality.
Preventive health care as a method of early disease prevention
The worst thing that can happen due to not brushing teeth is well represented through the following remedy, however the only way to prevent this from happening is to ensure that the person brushes his teeth regularly.
This includes using fluoride-containing toothpaste when brushing the teeth at least twice a day or after breakfast and before bedtime, as well as using dental floss daily in addition to regular dental checkups and treatments.
Using a mouthwash can also help prevent plaque build-up and thus reduce gum disease. Another factor that is believed to contribute to oral health is a healthy diet excluding sugar-rich products and beverages.
Staying hydrated, especially after eating, makes it easier to rinse the mouth, which helps remove food particles and prevent plaque build-up.
Conclusion: A Year of Neglect Can Have Lifelong Consequences
Many dental and health issues arise from not brushing your teeth for a full year; some of these issues are treatable.
This includes gum diseases such as gingivitis and periodontal disease, tooth decay, tooth loss, and a variety of systemic diseases such as heart disease, respiratory disease, Alzheimer's disease, and diabetes, etc.
Fortunately, most dental problems can be easily avoided or easily cured provided they are treated in time.
Thus, if you brush your teeth, floss, and visit the dentist regularly, your teeth, gums, and other parts of your body will remain healthy and give you a beautiful smile and quality life.
Simply, brushing and flossing your teeth for a few minutes every day is a small price to pay for the benefits you will reap in the future. Excellent and will not make you regret it in your future.