Why You Should Brush Your Teeth Before Bed
A Good Bedtime Routine
Growing up, you have always been told to brush your teeth before going to bed. This is understood, but you do not always follow the rules. It is very easy to get in the habit of late night eating and not brushing after you finish. Here are five reasons why you should brush your teeth before bed.
Waste Accumulates In Your Mouth
Bacteria naturally resides in your mouth. This bacterium consumes the food that you eat. It also leaves behind waste. This waste is acidic and breaks down your tooth enamel, which can lead to cavities and root decay. Brushing is the only way to get rid of the waste from your mouth.
Plaque Calcifies On Your Teeth
Not brushing before bed causes plaque to harden and calcify on your teeth. If the plaque calcifies, then it is hard to remove plaque through flossing and brushing. At this point, you can only get it removed through a professional cleaning.
Destroys Healthy Tissues
Plaque causes your immune system to spring into action. Your immune system sees plaque as an infection. This leads to your body destroying the healthy tissues that holds your teeth in place. This sequence of events also causes your gums to pull away from your teeth.
Leads To Long-Term Inflammation
The effects of not brushing leads to inflammation. Inflammation allows your body to go in protection mode. However, it is a problem when inflammation is present for the long term.
For example, if you have the flu, then this viral infection is foreign to the body. The inflammation destroys the viral infection, which allows your body to get back healthy.
Can you imagine having the flu for several years? Long-term inflammation puts a lot of wear and tear on your body. When present in your mouth, it can also cause heart disease, dementia and hearing loss.
Disrupting Your Natural Cycle
Night time allows your teeth to recover. This time is used to restore the mineral element to your teeth from the wear and tear of the day. The fluoride from brushing helps with the remineralization process. Eating food instead of brushing at night disrupts this natural cycle and affects your overall oral health. It also limits the potential recovery from the wear and tear of the day.
The amount of saliva your mouth produces decreases at night. This leaves your teeth more exposed to damage, which can lead to cavities. No, it does not happen overnight, but you do not want to start bad habits. However, a clean mouth guarantees better overall oral health. Contact your local dentist for more information about proper oral care.
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