Brushing your teeth on a regular basis removes plaque, which can harden into tartar and encourage the growth of bacteria. These microorganisms have the ability to infect your gums.
How long can you go without brushing teeth?
In addition to removing plaque, brushing helps to prevent it from forming in the first place. Bacteria that have had three days to overproduce have a good chance of forming significant plaque.
What happens if you don’t brush your teeth for years?
Gingivitis can quickly become periodontitis if left untreated. At this point, bacteria have made their way beneath the gum line, and the tissues around the teeth and bones are at risk of becoming loose. If this happens, there is no way to stop the disease, and tooth loss is a possibility.