Here's What Happens If You Stopped Brushing Your Teeth

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Published 2018-09-23
Nearly half of Americans don’t brush their teeth enough. This opens the door for a bacteria invasion, leading to tooth decay and gum disease. Even worse, you might increase your risk for issues like kidney disease and dementia.

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Following is a transcript of the video:

Nearly half of Americans don’t brush their teeth enough. This opens the door for a bacteria invasion, leading to tooth decay and gum disease. Even worse, you might increase your risk for issues like kidney disease and dementia. The following is a transcript of the video.

Meet Streptococcus mutans. He’s a bacterium and…a bit of a slob. But this isn’t just any mess. It’s what’s on your teeth! You see, “Strep” and all his roommates live inside your mouth, feeding off the sugar and protein in your food. When they’re done they excrete a slimy substance ALL OVER your pearly whites.

The end result is a bacteria-ridden pigsty, called biofilm. Now a little biofilm isn’t going to hurt you. It’s only when you stop brushing it away that things can get ugly. And not only for your teeth. It just so happens that “Strep” and his friends are a downright threat to your life.

Nearly half of Americans don’t brush their teeth enough. And when food builds up in those nooks and crannies, you’re inviting a host of bacteria to the party — including your gum line. The perfect place for bacteria to camp out in even greater numbers! Which irritate and inflame your gums, causing tenderness and bleeding.

But that’s just the start! Soon enough, that infection will trigger your immune system. Which sends fighter cells to battle the bacteria. This creates a hostile environment for the bacteria, which is what you want. But it can also damage the cells in nearby tissue and bone.

6 months to years later, that tissue and bone will eventually die. At this point, you don’t have gingivitis anymore. You have something much worse: periodontal disease. No more tissue and bone means no structural support. So, your gums separate from your teeth forming pockets that quickly become extra space for “Strep” and his friends. Which further infects your gums, causing your teeth to fall out.

Now, you may think this could never happen to you but about 10% of Americans between ages 50-64 have lost not just one or two, but ALL of their teeth! And to make matters worse, “Strep” and his buddies may enter your bloodstream, where they’ll wreak havoc on your organs, too.

For example, in one study, people with periodontal disease were 4.5 times more likely to have chronic kidney disease than people with healthy gums. And another study found that people in a retirement community who didn’t brush their teeth daily, had up to a 65% greater risk of dementia. Last but not least, there’s the increased risk of developing certain cancers:

To be fair, these risks can also be the result of poor hygiene in general, but the message remains clear: Brush. Your. Teeth. It’s worth the extra 4 minutes a day.

All Comments (21)
  • @coryclark5442
    I have bad depression and its hard for me to do basic things such as take care of my teeth, this is motivational and informative and i thank you for helping me along the path of bettering myself.
  • @kathy.s_closet
    I used to lie about brushing my teeth most of the days but now I will never do that ever again and actually after watching this video I brushed my teeth and then left this comment. Thank you for telling me how important brushing my teeth is.
  • When I was a child I truly didn't care about brushing my teeth. I had cavities and pain, but eventually those teeth fell out as they should. That's when I started to care for my teeth. A fresh start. I am now 25, and even though I have a near perfect dental hygiene (I am aware of what I eat and drink, brush 2 times a day and floss, the only thing I sometimes skip is dental elixir), I have early stage periodontal desease and had to treat two small cavities (the first ever since loosing my baby teeth and without going to the dentist for nearly 3 years due to Covid). Me and my dentist found out that my medication for endometriosis leaves me more vulnerable to periodontal desease and the stress I endured during the last two years only worsened it. Sometimes it's not only the lack of hygiene that will damage your teeth and gums, there are other factors. So always take a closer look at all the variables.
  • @DchoSenM14
    Brushing too much can also damage your gums wich are more important then teeth! Teeth can be replaced but your gums cant
  • Good video! I show this to my little patients because it is easier for them to understand. Thank you!
  • @EpsilonBiatch
    Yo why tf Strep and his Crew gotta do us dirty like that? Smh 🤷🏼‍♂️
  • @megannkrvs764
    Human: doesn't brush teeth Germs: Its free real state Edit: Lmao, thanks for the 1.5k likes its been a year
  • I remember years ago I brushed my teeth, didn't like it, never did it again and now I don't have any teeth to worry about...... all well that ends well.
  • @sludgeman2597
    I didn't hardly brush throughout my entire childhood up into my teens. I would brush maybe once or twice a week. That resulted in about 23 of my 29 teeth to develop cavities and become extremely weak. It's my greatest regret in life at this point.
  • @isabelle_4389
    Thanks, now I'm gonna brush by teeth after hardly brushing then for four years. But I have never had a cavity, now I never want one.
  • @aqua642
    using this to motivate me to get over depression and actually brush my teeth
  • @thebrain678
    I think I'm going through something mentally but I haven't brushed my teeth in a week but this is giving me new motivation