About

Is there a timeline for the lack of dental hygiene?  I feel like this iaa answer that is hard to give because most dentists really refuse to talk about it.  What really happens and how fast does it happen if you simply stopped brushing your teeth?  The effects of it are mostly known to the majority of people but the timing is a mystery to me.  So I want to take the time to go into the different things that can happen to your teeth and mouth and also break down the possibility of when and how these things could actually occur.  Because I think it's important to know the why and when of everything that goes on with your health and especially an area that is so important. So what really would happen if you stopped brushing your teeth for a year?

The yearly mark I feel like is a safe bet for talking about when things could happen if you stopped brushing your teeth.  This could be caused by a tragic circumstance or by a crazy amount of traveling. The year timeline could also just be pure neglect or disdain for dental healthcare and that is why I want to explore it a little more in depth. When the ADA or American Dental Association was asked what would happen, their response was more than disappointing because they didn't have hard data.  They simply said, "Probably nothing good" then they went over a few things that would likely happen.

The first issue noted was that cavies would likely form. This is the cause of tooth decay and is simply the eroding of the tooth enamel your teeth are made of. You could also experience periodontal disease. Or in lamence terms gum disease. The major issue with these is that they can cause lots of pain and in a worse case scenario they can cause teeth to fall out. The existence of these issues can also lead to more bacteria being formed in the mouth.  What then happens is that the immune system is then forced to work harder to fight off lots of extra harmful bacteria. This then causes a host of other problems to then occur.  The issue has been linked to pneumonia and even heart disease.  So it would seem that not brushing your teeth can actually cause lots of issues. So stay safe and keep on brushing!