Problems With Your Mouth And Teeth? How You Sleep Might Be The Culprit
Ask any exhausted adult and they can tell you, getting a decent night's sleep is essential to maintaining your physical and mental health. However, did you know that sleeping can actually be detrimental to your oral health? There are two common disorders, sleep apnea and bruxism, that can wreak havoc on your mouth, and chances are you won't notice the symptoms of either until your teeth and gums begin to suffer. Don't allow these common sleep issues to wreak havoc on your teeth and instead, here are a few tips to help ensure snoozing doesn't impact your smile:
The Connection Between Sleep Apnea and Your Oral Health
According to the National Sleep Foundation, sleep apnea impacts nearly 18 million Americans, but if you're suffering, you might not realize there's a problem.
There are two main types of sleep apnea: central and obstructive. According to the Mayo Clinic, either type of apnea causes an individual to stop breathing for small amounts of time during the night.
If you're suffering from any of these symptoms, you might have sleep apnea:
- Snoring
- Lack of energy throughout the day
- Headaches in the morning
- Insomnia
- Sore throat and dry mouth in the morning
You might be wondering how sleep apnea can possibly affect your teeth? Individuals with sleep apnea typically sleep with their mouth open, which can lead to dry mouth. Aside from being uncomfortable enough to send you searching for a glass of water in the morning, an inadequate amount of saliva can also lead to tooth decay and damage.
If you suspect you have sleep apnea, don't wait until your tooth decay leads to cavities or tooth loss and instead, contact your dentist. They can provide you with a list of options that can help ease the symptoms of sleep apnea, or cure it all together.
These include a continuous positive airway pressure, CPAP, machine. This machine uses forced air to keep your throat open, which can help you sleep. When it comes to your oral health, there are other options that can help, including sleeping on your side and using an oral rehydrating product first thing in the morning.
Bruxism Causes, Symptoms and Help
Another condition that, according to the Mayo Clinic, is sometimes associated with sleep apnea is bruxism, which is the technical term for a condition that affects many people: grinding your teeth.
If you're chronically grinding your teeth morning, noon and night, you might have this condition under control during the day. However, it can still occur at night, and the impact on your teeth can be devastating.
There could be several reasons why you're unknowingly grinding your teeth throughout the day and night, including:
- Stress
- Acid Reflux
- Earache
- Sleep Apnea
In addition to having any medical condition diagnosed and treated, such as taking medication to treat your anxiety or an OTC acid reducer for your reflux, there is another option to help prevent any further damage to your teeth: a mouth guard.
These guards are flexible, fitted for your mouth and work by keeping your teeth completely separated at night.
According to Mayo Clinic, if the bruxism is severe, or has been going on for several years, you may need to have dental work performed to repair the wear and damage. In addition to the aesthetic appearance of your teeth, the wear can cause pain or make it difficult to chew.
Sleep apnea and bruxism can have a damaging impact on your teeth. Luckily, both conditions are easily detectable, treatable and even, preventable. If you suspect your teeth are suffering from damage done in your sleep, don't hesitate to speak to your dentist or doctor at a site like http://www.accentdentalnwi.com immediately.