Proper oral hygiene includes regular brushing and flossing.


If you want a healthy and beautiful smile, it is essential that you practice proper oral hygiene habits every day. As part of your routine, you should brush your teeth at least twice a day. This helps to remove food particles and plaque from your teeth, and prevents issues like tooth decay from developing over time. Read on to find out what you shouldn’t skip brushing your teeth, and how you can improve your oral health with the right habits…

What happens if you don’t brush?

Several issues can occur if you don’t brush your teeth regularly. Brushing helps to get rid of plaque, so if you don’t brush your teeth, you are at greater risk of tooth decay and cavities. Plaque is packed with harmful bacteria that attack the teeth and cause damage to the enamel.

Brushing your teeth also helps to prevent gingivitis. If you don’t brush regularly, the bacteria in plaque can cause inflammation of the gums, causing them to bleed. If left untreated, gingivitis can progress into a more advanced stage of gum disease known as periodontitis. Periodontitis is a serious infection that can affect the gums and underlying bone and even lead to tooth loss if it is not managed.

By brushing your teeth, it is possible to prevent a range of oral health issues, but the habit is also beneficial for overall health. There is a strong link between oral and general health, and some studies even suggest that individuals who practise proper oral hygiene are less likely to experience heart disease.  

How long does it take for damage to occur?

Plaque builds up in the mouth throughout every day after you eat and drink, so you must brush your teeth regularly to remove harmful bacteria from your teeth and gums. Some studies suggest that plaque can begin to cause damage within as little as 48 hours. After around a week without brushing your teeth, you are likely to feel a layer of plaque on your teeth, and you may experience bad breath at this point as well.

It is difficult to know exactly how quickly damage would occur if one did not brush their teeth for an extended period because each individual is different, but if left to accumulate, the plaque would eventually lead to severe tooth decay, gum disease and even tooth loss.  

What is proper oral hygiene?

To maintain your oral hygiene, we recommend that you brush your teeth at least twice a day for around two minutes each time. You should also floss once a day to get rid of bacteria, plaque and food particles from between the teeth.

We also encourage our patients to come in and see us for regular check-ups and cleans. This will allow us to identify and resolve any issues as soon as possible, and to remove plaque and tartar from your teeth and gumline.

Besides practising good hygiene habits, it is also a good idea to eat a healthy, balanced diet and to limit your intake of foods and drinks that contain sugar. Avoid harmful habits like smoking, and limit your consumption of alcohol.

How can we help?

At Beenleigh Marketplace Dental, we offer a range of services designed to improve and maintain good oral health. We encourage our patients to come in and see us every six months so that we can catch any dental issues early. When you come in and see us, we are happy to address any questions or concerns you have about your oral health or your oral hygiene techniques, and can provide you with the information you need to master your brushing style.

If you would like to arrange a consultation to see us, please get in touch with us here or give us a call on (07) 3801 8799.