Your Nighttime Tooth Brushing Ritual: How Important Is It?

Everyone knows that they should brush their teeth before they go to bed. Most people forget every once in a while, but the real problem happens when they miss night after night. Some people wonder: Do I really need to make sure I’m brushing every night? At California Dental Group, we can’t stress enough how important it is to have good oral care at home – especially at night.

We wanted to make sure that our patient know not just that it’s important but why it’s important. Keep reading to learn what you’re really risking by not brushing your teeth. Then give us a call if it’s time for your regular exam or cleaning.

Bacteria works overtime at night

If you go to bed without brushing your teeth, all the food and bacteria that’s been left since your last brushing is going to stick around. It can get between your teeth and cause decay on your teeth for hours. In fact, it will just keep causing decay until you brush it off. If you let it go all night, some of that bacteria will likely have hardened into plaque – which can only be removed by a dental professional. If you think skip your morning tooth brushing then you’ll really be teeming with nasty bacteria.

What exactly does bacterial buildup lead to?

Bacterial buildup causes decay, can cause cavities, and can cause gingivitis. Remember that a cavity is a hole that’s in your tooth or in between your teeth. These cavities are caused by hardened bacteria eating away at the enamel of your teeth.

Once plaque starts to build up near your gum line, it will be free to constantly attack your gums. The first thing you’ll likely notice is that there’s a yellow filmy layer around your gum line. Eventually, your gums will become infected. This is actually the way you get gum disease. If left long enough, your teeth will separate as your gums recede. The long-term result may involve losing your teeth.

There’s more

If enough of your gum tissue ends up destroyed, then your smile will begin to look very different. Your teeth won’t have nearly as much gum line to attach to. After a while, they’ll get loose. Eventually they will fall out. You could also be looking at other oral health issues, like abscesses. The bottom line is that if you ignore your teeth long enough, you’re going to end up toothless eventually.

The good news is that there’s a simple solution

All you have to do to avoid this is to brush and floss your teeth before you go to bed each night. It’s also wise to do it when you get up in the morning, too. Getting regular dental checkups is important too – we can catch small problems before the turn into big ones. If you’re due for a cleaning and checkup, reach out to California Dental Group at (800) 407-0161 to make an appointment.