It’s been a long day. You’ve brushed the kids teeth, read them stories and tucked them in. You are ready to just close your eyes and then you remember, “I didn’t brush my teeth.” You think to yourself, “one night of not brushing won’t hurt. I’ll brush extra long in the morning. It’s not that big of a deal, right?”
The reality is that not brushing your teeth before bed is bad news. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends brushing your beautiful smile twice a day. Skip a session, and you’re on your way to encouraging the growth of bacterial buildup in the form of plaque, which can lead to cavities and even gum disease.
Chances are that you’ve felt plaque on your teeth throughout your day and haven’t even realized it. When you brush it disrupts that bacteria, so it doesn’t stay on your teeth and your gums. The problem is that when it is left in place it begins to attack your teeth. The longer plaque remains on your teeth the more likely it is to become tarter, which leads to inflammation and bleeding of your gums. The longer it remains untreated the more likely you are to loose a tooth.
By not brushing once you run the risk of skipping this nightly habit again and again. So, stick to the habit. Follow the simple and easy guidelines of the ADA: brush for two minutes, twice a day and floss at least once a day. Regular dental visits will also help to protect your pearly whites.
