Do you brush before bed? It’s a very important time to brush if you don’t. Otherwise, everything from throughout the day sits in your mouth collecting bad bacteria. In today’s blog, your Lake Forest Dentist, Dr. Fondriest, discusses the need to brush your teeth before bed.
Why We Brush
You may think you only brush your teeth to keep them white, or to keep cavities away, but there is a more important reason to brush. Periodontal disease is the leading cause of tooth loss and can also cause or exacerbate systemic illnesses in your body such as diabetes and heart disease. Any leftover sugars, starches, or food debris in your mouth and on your teeth or gums attracts harmful oral bacteria that: 1) feed on the sugars, starches, and other debris 2) release harmful acids while metabolizing them 3) reproduce themselves as they are metabolizing. These acids and bacteria eat away at your tooth enamel, and irritate your gums and under your gums, causing infection and gum disease.
Why We Brush At Night
It’s important to brush your teeth at night so the sugars from the foods and beverages that you eat throughout the day do not adhere to your teeth collecting harmful bacteria. Flossing before bed is important too. Flossing removes bacterial plaque and food particles from between your teeth and under your gumline. Also, rinse before bed with an antibacterial mouthwash. An antibacterial mouthwash before bed helps reduce harmful bacteria that cause periodontal disease at nighttime.
About Your Lake Forest Dentist:
Aside from providing dependable general and restorative dentistry services to our community, Dr. James Fondriest also holds respected academic appointments at the Pankey Institute in Key Biscayne, FL, and the Spear Institute in Scottsdale, AZ, and he is a former adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Prosthodontics at the University of Florida Dental School. At Lake Forest Dental Arts, Dr. Fondriest combines his impressive array of experience with modern technology and caring, compassionate, knowledgeable staff, and we proudly serve patients from Chicago and all surrounding communities. To schedule a consultation, call our office today at (847) 234-0517.