That's disgusting: Sleeping without brushing your teeth

By Sachiko Miyakawa

Thursday, April 2, 2009

You fall into bed after barely finishing homework at 3 in the morning. Brushing your teeth may be the last thing on your mind, but you should know what will happen in your mouth when you skip brushing your teeth.

“Different types of bacteria reside in the mouth and they can be really aggressive and active overnight,” says Laura Claxton, registered dental hygienist at Enhance Dental Care of Lawrence. Harmful bacteria invade the teeth and gums over time, causing cavities and gum disease. She says brushing and flossing teeth decrease the amount of bacteria in the mouth and help keep the gum tissue and teeth healthy. Studies show that chewing sugar-free gum can help prevent tooth decay. She says, however, it cannot replace brushing teeth.

photo

Photo by Sachiko Miyakawa

Too ... tired ... need ... sleep: If you skip brushing those pearly whites at night, a foul odor will overtake your mouth, leaving you with raunchy breath the next day.

Lack of proper oral hygiene also creates foul odor in the mouth. Claxton says using a tongue scraper helps keep your breath fresh.

Claxton recommends brushing for three minutes in the morning and at night, and flossing at least three times a week. She says using alcohol-free mouthwash is a great addition to the regular brushing routine.

Comments

Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.

Advertisement