I don’t know how many of you remember this episode of Channel 4’s British reality show ‘Embarrassing Bodies’. In 2017, it featured Jay — a man who claimed he hadn’t brushed his teeth for the last 20 years.
That’s pretty much his whole life, given he was just 21 at the time. To save Jay’s teeth, the programme’s dentist, Dr James Russell, had to clean his teeth just to see them in the first place! This followed extensive extractions, fillings, dental implants etc.
While some of you might cringe at the thought and wonder if brushing your teeth is even a choice, for others, skipping this chore might feel surprisingly normal.
A UK survey undertaken as part of National Smile Month revealed that 13% of Brits are supposedly skipping regular brushing – that’s NOT brushing teeth at least three times a week.
In addition, 20% of the population regularly skip their evening toothbrushing ritual before bedtime.
Consequently, according to recent data, two-thirds (66%) of UK people have visible plaque, and nearly one-third (31%) have dental decay. More alarmingly, three-quarters (around 74%) have had teeth pulled.
These numbers highlight something gravely deeper than oral health: the lack of awareness in understanding the repercussions and long-term effects of not brushing teeth.
So to put this right and shock you into taking action, we’ll walk you through the journey of not brushing teeth from days to a year to showcase how that can impact not just the teeth but every part of your body.
So, are you sitting (un)comfortably? Let’s begin…
A Hypothetical Journey of NOT Brushing Teeth
Day 1–7: The First Week Without Brushing
Within just a few minutes of brushing, bacteria and cells from the mouth’s tissues start building on the tooth surface. Surprisingly, that’s normal! We all have plaque on our teeth between meals, upon waking up and when we go to bed.
The real saga starts when you do NOTHING to remove the plaque and let it build. Within just a few days, you can expect…
- A soft, fluffy layer starts to show up in the form of white deposits on the teeth.
- Your teeth feel fuzzy and rough, and
- There is an unpleasant taste in the mouth that will probably lead to bad breath.
During this time, the plaque absorbs minerals from the saliva and the food to start calcification or hardening. This process happens as early as day one! By day twelve, Plaque reaches 60%-90% calcification.
But there’s more…
In the background, the 500+ species of oral bacteria double their numbers five times every 24 hours, resulting in localised gum inflammation (gingivitis), gum bleeds and soreness.
All that, in just the first week!
Month 1 of No Toothbrushing: Visible Signs of Neglect
The initial signs of gum inflammation become more evident in a month, and gingivitis sets in.
- The sporadic deposits of hardened plaque, now called calculus, start to coalesce. In other words, they start to form thick bands along the teeth and gums.
- The gums will start to bleed when eating hard, crunchy and fibrous foods.
- Bleeding will become more persistent.
- Bad breath becomes more prominent and won’t go away when you chew gum or gargle.
- The mouth will also feel pretty scummy, dampening any taste.
- Whitish deposits on the tongue are normal, and
- Tooth sensitivity now becomes a thing, particularly to anything cold, hot or sweet.
Month 6–1 Year of No Toothbrushing: Gingivitis Becomes Periodontitis
After six months of not brushing, any early-stage gingivitis becomes more serious as it turns into advanced gum disease (periodontitis).
What is periodontitis?
It is an advanced stage of inflammation and infection that goes beyond the gums, reaching the underlying jawbones and eventually undermining the teeth.
What you’ll see?
- Gums start pulling back from the teeth, and little gaps (called pockets) open up between the teeth and gums.
- The bone holding your teeth begins to break down—sometimes causing loose tooth structures.
- Teeth will forgo their normal white colouring in favour of a brownish hue thanks to all the hardened plaque (tartar) and staining.
- At this stage chewing food will feel like a chore as sensitive and weak teeth show in sporadic discomfort.
Years 2–5 of No Toothbrushing: Major Damage Kicks In
More than a year of not brushing your teeth? That can be seriously detrimental not just to your teeth and gums, but your overall health. Here’s how…
Advanced periodontal disease sets in: When periodontitis worsens, it affects the gums, the jawbones and the teeth. Here’s a glimpse into what may happen next:
- As gums pull back, they leave the sensitive roots of your teeth exposed. This makes things like cold drinks or sometimes even breathing in cold air feel sharp and painful.
- Painful, pus-filled lumps (abscesses) can pop up in the gums or around the teeth, causing throbbing pain, bad breath, and sometimes even fever.
- At this stage, the damage is so bad that your teeth no longer have enough bone or gum to hold them in place — they can literally start falling out on their own.
- The jawbones shrink and break down, weakening the structure of the lower face and causing sagging skin.
- With missing teeth and sore gums, chewing food becomes a real struggle. You might also find it harder to speak clearly.
But there’s more… way more!
Beyond the mouth, you may also witness other health problems, both physically and mentally:
A high bacterial count in the mouth may force bacteria into the blood. These dispersed colonies of bacteria are dangerous for heart health, lung concerns, diabetes, etc.
- Oral bacterial overload increases the chances of heart attacks, strokes and endocarditis.
- Gum disease can make it much harder to control blood sugar levels in diabetes.
- Dispersed microbial colonies may also reside in the lungs, causing lung infections like pneumonia or worsening existing conditions.
- Poor gum health is also linked to premature birth and low birth weight.
Moreover, long-term gum disease keeps the body in a constant state of inflammation, which can stress the immune system, increase the risk of other health problems, and negatively affect mental health conditions such as dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and depression.
Last, but not least, bad teeth can seriously knock your confidence, making you avoid social gatherings and leave you feeling isolated and embarrassed.
All that within 60 months of not brushing your teeth!
So, Can the Damage from Not Brushing Teeth Be Reversed?
Yes, kind of! With modern dentistry, it’s better to be late than never.
Here’s a brief idea of what modern dentistry can do at each stage of poor oral hygiene routines:
- Early-stage plaque can be eradicated using gentle techniques like ultrasonic teeth cleaning and air polishing,
- Further damage like cavities and gum pockets can also be spotted with clinical exams and 3D intraoral scanners.
- Digital X-rays can substantiate these findings with a better view of the underlying jawbones and tooth pulp.
- Digital smile design tools help you and the dentist plan a treatment—that best suits your needs, aesthetics and functional requirements.
Even at times when there appears to be no point of return – like in tooth loss or bone loss – modern dental treatments with dental implants, full mouth rehabilitations and bone grafting offer patients hope for complete oral restoration.
So, while there are processes and procedures that dentists can initiate at every stage, we sincerely hope it doesn’t get this far.
Needless to say, in dentistry, prevention is better than a cure. Comparing costs and the time taken, preventive dental care and routine dental appointments are far superior to restorative treatments—that’s a no-brainer.
Key takeaway
Although this was only a hypothetical journey, it’s one you really don’t want to be going on. Brushing teeth is by far the first thing we learn as children, and for good reason. A clean and healthy mouth is so much more than a pretty smile—it is a repository of health for the whole body. Good oral habits pave your way to a healthier life and a healthier body, and that all starts with brushing your teeth regularly!
Are you up for the challenge?
For more info, feel free to check out my Dental Dale blog. It’s packed full of tips, tricks and general info to keep your oral health in check.
Alternatively, if you have a dental practice or dental-related business and need a hand with ongoing content, give me a shout! I’d love to talk to you about how I can help!