Although dentists to brush your teeth twice per day, it can be tempting to skip this step at night. However, this can have severe consequences for your oral health. Below, the team at Hill Country Dental Associates in Kerrville, TX, explain why everyone needs to take care of their teeth before bed.

Why It’s Important to Brush at Night

Keeps Breath Fresh

Neglecting to brush at night can lead to bad breath in the morning. Not only is this an unpleasant way to start the day, but it can also harm your teeth. During the day, saliva washes away bacteria and food particles that can cling to your teeth and gums and cause cavities. The fluid also contains important natural minerals like calcium, phosphate, and bicarbonate, which further protect and strengthen your teeth and neutralize mouth acids. At night, saliva production decreases, allowing bacteria to flourish.

Eliminates Plaque Buildup

Since your mouth produces less moisture at night, bacteria have ample time to grow. This is why you often wake up with a dry mouth and a filmy coating on your teeth. Over time, this layer of plaque hardens and turns into tartar, which can only be removed by a dentist. If left untreated, tartar can cause cavities and gum disease, both of which can be painful and expensive to treat.

Brushing your teeth before bed removes any bacteria and food particles that may have accumulated throughout the day, reducing the potential for plaque to form and grow overnight. The next time you think you’re too tired to brush before bed, think again. If you’ve been skipping nighttime oral hygiene, then it may be time to see the dentists at Hill Country Dental Associates for a cleaning. In addition to polishing teeth and removing plaque and tartar, they treat gum disease, place crowns, perform root canal treatments. Visit their website for more information, and call (830) 257-3000 to book an appointment.