It is easy to take our smoothly-functioning body for granted during our golden days of youth. Our teeth, in particular, are the most ignored since we are usually in a hurry to brush them in the morning in order to make it to work on time. And as long as we can chew on our favourite foods nothing else matters right?

Well… not really. You see, much like everything else in life, what you do with your teeth while you’re young can come back to haunt you when you’re older. Yes, we’re talking about extractions, dentures, gum infections, and more.

If you’re still not taking your dental health seriously, here are four legit reasons why your teeth deserve more attention than you’re giving them:

Ignored teeth are at the risk of erosion
We’re all at the risk of a deteriorating top layer or enamel of our teeth, despite daily brushing. Why you ask? Well, thanks to sugary foods and an increased intake of carbs which rule our diets, our saliva becomes more acidic and chips away at the enamel. The result? Increased sensitivity to hot and cold foods, discolouration of teeth, and of course, tooth decay.

The solution? Rinse your mouth with water after every meal and use dental products that are rich in fluoride.

Age dictates your dental health
As you age, so do your organs. Just like the other parts of your body, your teeth also start getting weaker. If you seriously want to avoid the denture situation we talked about above, start with regular dental check-ups.

You could catch infections
Brushing your teeth thoroughly for two minutes, twice a day, along with flossing and rinsing your mouth with a mouthwash stops bacteria from damaging your teeth. However, the risk isn’t just limited to your tusks.

Poor oral hygiene can lead to weak and bleeding gums, opening them to bacterial action–which can lead to infections like gingivitis that can cause a lot of pain.