How long can it take for tooth decay to kick in by not brushing your teeth?

Tooth decay: Tooth decay requiers three things, a tooth, sugar and bacteria. An individuals rate of decay depends on sugar intake and the prevalence of strep mutans(bacteria) and can be highly variable.

Depends : Depends upon how deep the grooves are in your teeth and how sugary your diet is. However, you should also be worried about gingivitis and periodontitis. This is the swelling of the gums and destruction of the bone around the teeth which is also caused from poor hygiene. If not caught early, you could lose all your teeth.

It varies: Dental decay is a demineralization of enamel, following by the advancing of the lesion into dentin and ultimately the nerve. The rate of the decay depends on the host factors, the amount of sticky or ferment carbohydrates on the tooth, the saliva quality and quantity (age related), the oral hygiene, the occlusion, the environment optimal for food impaction (open contact, gap, faulty restoration).

Depends: It depends on the types of food you eat or drink? Foods that contain a higher sugar content probably will cause decay quicker. Why wait around for decay. Start brushing your teeth now.