According to the American Dental Association, 1 in 5 Americans don't brush their teeth twice a day. The ADA also says that only half of the American population flosses their teeth. This is surprising news, considering the ADA's massive drive to educate people on the importance of brushing at least twice a day, and flossing at least once a day, to achieve optimum oral health. Keep reading to learn 4 other nasty things that can crop up if you don't take care of your teeth:
1. Bad Breath
The most obvious symptom of not taking care of your teeth is bad breath, also called halitosis. In fact, 65% of American citizens have bad breath. But that doesn't seem to be enough motivation to get people to brush and floss. Stinky breath is the result of rotting food particles in between your teeth and gums. When you don't brush away the food debris, it will begin to decay pretty quickly. The longer the gunk is left in your mouth, the more bacteria will build up, and the more health problems you'll have. All you have to do to cure bad breath, in most cases, is to brush and floss your teeth daily. Cleaning your tongue also helps eliminate bad breath.
2. Tooth Loss
When you don't brush and floss your choppers, you'll probably get cavities and gum disease. These problems eat away at the bone holding teeth in place. Before long, the teeth get loose. Eventually your teeth will start falling out. You may be shocked to know that most people between the ages of 20 and 64 have lost as many as 7 teeth. What is also shocking is that 10% of Americans between 50 and 64 have lost all their teeth. This can easily be prevented by brushing and flossing at least twice a day.
3. Diabetes
Diabetic people take longer to heal after being wounded. That includes healing various types of wounds in the mouth. But it's relatively uncommon knowledge that diabetics are at greater risk for periodontitis. To make matters worse, now studies are showing that people with periodontitis have a greater risk of becoming pre-diabetic, or insulin resistant. The good news is that people with diabetes, or pre-diabetes, can start brushing and flossing their teeth regularly to improve their insulin resistance.
4. Dementia
In 2012, the results of a long-term study were revealed and showed that there may be a link between poor oral health and dementia. This study was done at Laguna Hills retirement community, and involved 5,468 people. These folks were followed for 18 years to record their state of oral and mental health. The study found that among the Laguna Hills residents who didn't brush their teeth regularly but still had their natural teeth, 22% - 65% had a higher risk of dementia than the people who brushed their teeth 3 times a day.
The mouth is a gateway to our entire body's overall health. When you don't brush and floss your teeth regularly, there's a lot more at stake than having sparkling white teeth and fresh breath. You put your life at risk. If anything, this news should motivate more people to brush their teeth at least 2 times a day. Furthermore, it's important that you visit the dentist twice a year for a professional cleaning and oral exam. This visit also provides you with the perfect opportunity to ask your dentist any questions or discuss your concerns about your oral health.
For more information about the importance of dental care, contact a professional such as Ken Chang DDS.
Share20 November 2014
Being born with naturally soft teeth, I've spent a lot of time in and out of the dentist's office. Not only have I learned a lot about basic dental care, I've also discovered many tips for dealing with broken teeth, extractions, implants, and more. I decided that I wanted to make the most of my experience by sharing what I've learned with others. True first-hand experience is a great teacher, and I knew that my story could help. I created this site to do just that, and I hope that the information here helps you to understand what to expect from your dental problems.