Kit Roberts
A video gives an impression of what could happen if you neglect to brush your teeth for a whole month.
The general recommendation according to Cleveland Clinic is to brush your teeth every day as a preventative health measure. Not maintaining proper oral hygiene can lead to things like gum disease and tooth loss, but it can also have a health impact outside of your mouth as well.
Having poor oral hygiene could increase your risk of things like cardiovascular disease and having a stroke - so it's fair to say that making sure you brush every day is important for more than just keeping those gnashers sparkly.
But while it's common knowledge for us to make sure we're brushing our teeth at least twice a day, just how bad can things get if we don't?
Advert
Well, one TikTok video posted by dr_data_dr on the subject racked up some 15.2 million views, illustrating the alleged various stages.
After one day, a transparent layer (AKA plaque) covers your teeth, while by day three, there are noticeable clumps of plaque between your teeth.
One week on, and your teeth no longer appear smooth, instead having a noticeable layer on plaque on them. By the end of that 30-day period, the video gives a pretty startling image, showing plaque all over every single tooth and even the roots starting to show.
But just how accurate is the video?
Well, it was labelled as 'AI generated' by the creator, so it might be worth taking with a pinch of salt about the specific images that it shows. Nonetheless, that doesn't mean that not brushing your teeth can't have some very serious long term health consequences.
Plaque buildup can lead to tartar, not the kind of sauce that goes on fish and chips, but a gross substance that provides a place for bacteria to grow in your mouth. This can lead to bad breath, painful tooth decay, and gum disease.
Dental problems can be very expensive to treat as well - much more expensive than buying a toothbrush and some toothpaste.
In addition to brushing twice a day, Cleveland Clinic also recommends flossing to help get to the spots between your teeth that a brush can't reach. You can also use mouthwash as well to help prevent bacteria from building up.
Diet is a big feature as well, as consuming a lot of sugary foods and drinks can be bad for your teeth. It's also very important to visit your dentist for regular checkups.
Healthline advises: "It’s tough to fully predict what would happen if you didn’t brush your teeth for a year."
They added: "However, one year of built-up tooth plaque would likely lead to cavities, gum disease, and potential tooth loss.
"If dentists don’t advise to skip brushing for one day, definitely don’t skip out on brushing for a year."