What Happens When You Don't Brush Your Teeth? | Earth Science

Bang Goes The Theory looks into the consequences of not brushing your teeth for five days - is it just aesthetic or are there more serious consequences?

Bang Goes The Theory Series 5
With family-relevant stories, spectacular stunts and competitive team challenges, the series is hosted by a gang of presenters who are passionate about science and happy to share their knowledge, banter and experiments.

Welcome to BBC Earth Science! Here we answer all your curious questions about science in the world around you. If there’s a question that we haven’t yet answered let us know in the comments on any of our videos and it could be answered by our Earth Science experts.

[TheElviz]

It all depends on how much sugar you intake. Animals have one diet and stick to it. Thus a biofilm overlays the teeth and "protects" the teeth from going bad/ prevents harmful bacteria of colonizing the teeth.
Also, 5 days of not brushing your teeth wont do anything. Besides, the cocci and rods are always present in your mouth and throat area just in smaller numbers after cleaning.

[inkdreams]

Five days doesn’t tell you the full story. Try it for six months, then share your findings.

[norma]

I hate that you don't show the full episode 😡😡😡

[MatthewStinar]

Well, that was a good start, but where's the rest of the story? What damage befalls those gums? What is the consequences of those bacteria? I was hoping to show this to the fourth grader who forgets to brush, but he wouldn't learn anything.

[KZilla]

That was a bit lackluster.. could have brushed your teeth at the end and taken another pic? Maybe even do the experiment for 10 days? Even could have done an experiment where one person brushed day and night and the other brushed just in the morning to see if/how much of a difference it makes

[EpicxNL]

You guys should make a video about what happens when you don't floss. It could make people save a lot of money.

[Augustus_Imperator]

True, but definitely exaggerated seems to me. 🤔

[samuelastrom]

Didn’t brush my teeth for 4 years because I was busy being a junkie. I have all my teeth left but I have fillings in all of them except 3. And two of them are crowns. Also this all cost nearly $6000 to have done.

[edenphillips]

Hey just out of curiosity what would I do if I hadn't brushed my teeth for maybe a month or so, they still look fine but is there a way to undo any damage that I may of caused???😬🦷

[karljo]

Why risk your own health doing this kind of experiment? Dental treatment is expensive.

[drawing_animals]

I struggle with brushing my teeth and I now have gum disease it’s not fun

[BlackWolf-]

Suddenly, I really want to know the wavelength of the UV light used to highlight the plaques. I'd also like to know if a "developer" was applied; something that will stick only to plaque for imaging with the UV lamp.

[josephwoo]

scroll down to see a bunch of people with terrible hygiene

[johnnopeyy]

I didn't brush my teeth for two years and they became yellow as a regular smoker and I also produced some hard plague. No cavities though.

[ShivSilverhawk]

I think this video isn’t going to be popular with English people.

[AnthoNico]

I haven't brushed my teeth in 15 years... No problems yet but i don't expect it to last... I need to do better

[Hokunin]

Big deal, our ancient ancestors lived without brushes their entire life.

[brooklynthegreat]

pfff, i can not brush my teeth for 5 days *_twice a week_*

[areamusicale]

Why would anybody publish such video?

[jeaninetungsten]

After 27 years I never brushed my teeth until this past year. I have never had any problems, not a single cavity or absence the only big thing is gum damage but over all nothing