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Thankfully, not many people will ever have to answer that question. One man in Great Britain, Jay, did answer that question with painful honesty – in a YouTube video called Embarrassing Bodies on Only Human. And we say painful because when you see the amount of decay and plaque build-up, you can only imagine how painful his situation must have been. Why in the world would anyone avoid brushing their teeth for that long?

This video is an extreme case of dental neglect. We firmly believe that no one should ever neglect their teeth for this long. For one thing, the repairs Jay undertook are exceedingly expensive. It would have been much cheaper to have been brushing and flossing his teeth and seeing the dentist twice a year. Preventative care is cheaper, and healthier, too.

https://youtu.be/91Eg7nzBPqw 

If you can not see the embedded video above please use the following link: Patient Hasn’t Brushed Teeth In 20 Years | Embarrassing Bodies

He was only 21 years old at the time of the video and admitted that his parents never encouraged him about brushing his teeth or attending to dental health at all. At Southeast Family Dental, we encourage parents to set proper brushing habits in place. It’s not just brushing, though, it’s regular visits to the dentist for check-ups and cleanings, eating properly, and, as Jay said, giving up the fizzy soft drinks.

Nothing to smile about

Not only was Jay in pain from the years of dental neglect, he was ashamed of his teeth, afraid to see a dentist, and admitted the condition of his teeth were preventing him from pursuing the career he wanted. Southeast Family Dental applauds the courage this man exhibited when he finally made the decision to fix his teeth and smile.

It is awfully young, at age 21, to have dental implants. It’s not necessarily rare, but at the same time, not ideal for anyone. The dental repair work makes his teeth and smile look nice, but it would have been better to have his own, natural teeth at this age.

While the video doesn’t discuss his overall health, good oral health; brushing twice a day and flossing daily plays a large part in general health. Luckily, he still has time.

Changing habits to prevent a relapse

Jay had to make a promise to change his habits before the dentists would perform the repair work for him. Even with all the new dental work giving him a nice smile now, he must start practicing (learning) good brushing and flossing habits. If he doesn’t, plaque and calcium deposits will once again form on or in-between his teeth.

He was lucky that his gums, roots, and bones were healthy enough for him to be a candidate for dental implants. Not everyone is that lucky, even if they had taken better care than he did. If he does not continue with the good dental health habits, his oral health will suffer again. That could mean that the bone in his jaw could deteriorate. Not only might that preclude any future work, because it is currently supporting a lot of his new dental work now, he could lose the implants he now has.

Brushing your teeth might not be how you want to spend five minutes twice a day, but the consequences of neglecting your teeth are evident in this video of a man named Jay. Don’t ever be like Jay!