teeth in great shape but i never brush????

[needhelpplease7]

hi im 16 i pretty much brush my teeth once a week and they alwas feel clean, and they are white, exept my gums arnt the healthest thing, i no its bad not to brush but i have never gotten cavities or root canans nothing hurts about them is this normal

[Jram]

Any dentist will tell you that you NEED to brush preferably twice a day (morning and night) and after meals (though most people don't do that).  Your teeth may look clean and white, but the part that you are neglecting are your gums.  The health of your gums is so important!  So, when you say that your gums aren't the healthiest thing then I can assume that your teeth aren't either!

If you don't brush your teeth/gums regularly, you are allowing germs to breed in your mouth, which can cause many terrible things, like gingivitis or periodontitis.  Gingivitis is usually caused by bacterial plaque that accumulates in the spaces between the gums and the teeth and in calculus (tartar) that forms on the teeth. These accumulations may be tiny, even microscopic, but the bacteria in them produce foreign chemicals and toxins that cause inflammation of the gums around the teeth.  This can lead to bone loss in your mandible and even result in your teeth FALLING OUT.

You need to begin brushing your teeth EVERY NIGHT AND DAY and floss EVERY NIGHT AND DAY.  I knew a women who didn't brush her teeth just like you and by 30 she wore dentures.  Her teeth were absolutely disgusint before she had dentures and her breath was terrible.

I feel that if you don't take care of yourself it shows that you don't respect yourself either.  At 16 years old you have so much going for you-- take care of your mouth!  Gold teeth and 'grills' look absolutely terrible.  Yikes.

[Jram]

I also want to add that just because you can't SEE cavities doesn't mean that they aren't there.  Most cavities form between teeth from lack of flossing.  

[pertykitty]

do your gums bleed yet?  do you want to smile at  a girl and then her see puffy red bleeding gums? yikes gross!! you need to get to a dentist and have a checkup and a cleaning.  you need to learn to brush your teeth daily, twice at least, floss, shower daily, change your clothes and wear deodorant.  by 16 you should already have these habits and follow them without moms help.  im kinda surprised your mom doesnt make you brush more often, im sure she can smell your breath.

[Jordy]

Your neglect of your teeth, and especially your gums, WILL come back to haunt you.  Don't get into this unhealthy habit so early in your life.  You are still young and that gives your teeth a bit of an advantage FOR THE TIME BEING.  But take it from someone who has spent upwards of $30,000 on dental care since the age of 16 (and I had GOOD dental hygiene at that!), you do NOT want to go down this road.  Neglect of your teeth and gums WILL cause problems.  Your teeth may LOOK white, but plaque buildup can be invisible and that you said you already have poor gums.  Gum diseases can actually cause the dislogding of your teeth down the road you know, and also can cause rancid breath problems (which is only compounded by poor brushing and flossing habits.) Just because you don't think you have bad breath doesn't mean you don't (halitosis sufferers cannot smell their own breath because they are desensitized to it, and people may feel very awkward about telling you.)

So if you were looking to come here for people to pat you on the back for your poor dental health habits, you came to the wrong place.  I guarantee you your teeth are not nearly as healthy and clean as you think they are, and you really should get started on healthy dental habits before it's too late.

I also have to wonder...WHY do you only brush once a week?  It's hardly the most complicated or time-consuming activity.  Even if you don't THINK you need to, it is a very refreshing, cleansing thing to do for yourself and for the people who are likely in the line of your breath.