Taking care of your gums and teeth is of immense importance. Many people think they should take care of their teeth just to avoid bad breath and cavities, but research shows that there is a strong connection between poor dental hygiene and a range of health conditions. Many people have bad teeth, and they suffer from several health conditions as well. Keep reading to find out more about why you do not just have bad teeth and how your oral hygiene can affect your overall health.

What Happens When You Do Not Brush Your Teeth?

You should not ignore your dental health because it can lead to several complications. Here is more about bad teeth from not brushing and issues it can cause.

1. Gum Disease

Most people think it's natural for gums to bleed when they brush and floss. That's not the truth though. If you notice blood when you brush your teeth, it indicates you have gum disease. It could happen due to gingivitis, a gum disease that makes your gums red and quick-to-bleed. This usually develops when there's plague build-up between your gums and teeth. If you do not brush your teeth, plague may spread and damage tissues and bones in your mouth. This will create pockets between your teeth that can catch bacteria and become infected.

2. Tooth Loss

If you do not brush your teeth regularly, you may end up losing your teeth. Research show that adults between 20 and 64 years of age lose an average of seven teeth, whereas 10% of Americans between 50 and 64 years of age have no teeth left. Gum disease and cavities usually end in tooth loss.

3. Bad Breath

Also known as halitosis, bad breath affects more than 65% of the population. Poor oral hygiene is the number one cause of having halitosis. When you do not get rid of food particles through brushing, these particles start to stink after a while. These particles also provide bacteria enough food to survive and replicate. Similarly, you will develop a coating on your teeth when you do not brush regularly. This coating also contributes to bad breath.

4. Other Diseases

If you think bad teeth from not brushing is the only problem caused by poor dental hygiene, it's not the case. Research shows you may end up developing several other diseases such as kidney disease, erectile dysfunction, diabetes, ulcers, pregnancy complications, and cancer.

How to Brush Teeth Properly

You may have gathered the idea why it is important to brush your teeth, but you may not know that many people who brush still end up developing certain issues because they do not know how to brush teeth properly. Here is more about it.

1. How Often Should You Brush Your Teeth

You should brush at least twice a day, in the morning and before you go to bed. It is a good idea to brush after lunch as well. But it is also important to understand that too much brushing can be harmful, especially if you are doing it wrong. This will damage the surface of your teeth and you may even end up dealing with receding gums due to excessive scrubbing.

2. How to Brush

• Ensure that the tip of your toothbrush is at a 45-degree angle when you come close to the gum line.
• Apply gentle pressure only, vibrate your brush slowly and flick away lightly. Never let your brush travel across the gums, but you should also ensure that you brush the area underneath the gum to get rid of food and bacteria.
• Do not forget to brush your tongue and use a tongue scraper if possible.

Watch this video to learn how to brush your teeth properly to avoid bad teeth from not brushing:

3. What Toothbrush to Use

It depends on your unique circumstances. Use an electric toothbrush if you have problems with manual dexterity. Even if you use a manual toothbrush, you should understand the right technique first. Always use a soft-to-medium toothbrush for better results. Buy a toothbrush with a smaller head.

4. Benefits of Floss

Flossing is important, but you should stay content with once a day only. You may consider flossing once at night, and it is a good idea to floss before you brush at night. Flossing opens up your teeth a bit, making it easier for you to get rid of food particles. Do not miss any tooth when flossing and use clean floss for each one. It is important to go up as far as it will go but do not hurt your gums in the process.

5. Should You Use Mouthwash?

No, you do not always need to use mouthwash. A standard mouthwash may actually wash away the fluoride that helps to reinforce the tooth surface damaged by bacteria. You may have to use certain mouthwashes if you have gum disease.

6. Never Brush Your Teeth Immediately After a Meal

Brushing thrice a day is important and prevents bad teeth from not brushing, but you should not brush immediately after eating your meal. It is the same when you have a reflux episode and get some acid in your mouth. That acid attacks your teeth, and brushing will trigger the process and damage dentin, the layer below your tooth's enamel. Wait for at least half an hour after a meal to brush. This will also give saliva a chance to neutralize acid.

How to Fight Bad Breath Even After Brushing

If you are especially concerned about bad breath even after brushing, you may consider taking the following steps.

• Always use a tongue scraper after or before brushing your teeth. That coating on your tongue is hugely responsible for producing bad breath. Regular scraping will help resolve this problem. You can also consider chewing on mint or parsley to get rid of odor-causing bacteria.
• Pay attention to what you eat. You should avoid caffeinated and alcoholic drinks because they will make your bad breath even worse. These drinks cause dehydration and lead to dry mouth. Dry mouth provides ideal environment for odor-causing bacteria to grow. Also, avoid certain foods such as garlic, cheese, and onions if you are concerned about bad breath.

If your bad breath persists after taking homecare measures, you may consider talking to your doctor about it. So many underlying conditions may cause bad breath. It is therefore a good idea to talk to your doctor to ensure everything else is fine.