What are the risks of not brushing your teeth?
Disease description:
Your teeth always bleed when you brush, your breath is really bad, and your teeth feel sensitive when you eat cold things. I've heard this is related to not getting your teeth cleaned? Exactly how many problems can not cleaning your teeth cause?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Liu Chao
Generally speaking, not brushing your teeth can lead to several hazards including bad breath, dental calculus formation, gingivitis, periodontitis, and dental caries.
1. Bad Breath
Food residues in the oral cavity are decomposed and fermented by bacteria, producing odorous metabolic products such as hydrogen sulfide and ammonia. Failure to brush teeth results in the retention of food residues and bacteria, allowing these odor-causing substances to accumulate continuously, thereby causing noticeable bad breath that can affect daily social interactions.
2. Dental Calculus Formation
If teeth are not brushed, dental plaque accumulates on the tooth surfaces. If left uncleaned for a long time, plaque can develop into dental calculus, which is difficult to remove through regular brushing alone and continuously irritates the gingival tissues.
3. Gingivitis
Failure to brush teeth allows dental calculus to accumulate along the gumline over time. The toxins and bacteria within the calculus irritate the gums, triggering an inflammatory response in the gingival tissue, which manifests as redness, swelling, and bleeding of the gums.
4. Periodontitis
Continuous irritation of the gums by dental calculus and plaque causes inflammation to progress deeper, damaging the periodontal supporting tissues such as the periodontal ligament and alveolar bone. The alveolar bone is gradually absorbed, the gums recede, and teeth lose their stable support, becoming loose and shifting. In severe cases, tooth loss may occur.
5. Dental Caries
Oral bacteria metabolize sugars from food to produce acidic substances. If teeth are not brushed, these acidic substances remain in contact with the teeth for prolonged periods. Over time, the carious lesions become increasingly deeper, affecting dental health.
In daily life, it is recommended to establish good oral hygiene habits and undergo regular dental cleanings to help maintain oral health.
