There are different types of sleep apnea a patient may be diagnosed with. What are the differences between mild and severe obstructive sleep apnea?

Mild Sleep Apnea Characteristics

If you’ve been diagnosed with mild sleep apnea, this means you experience between 5 and 14 different instances of cessation of breathing every hour. When you think about the standard person sleeping 8 hours, this means you could stop breathing over 100 times every single night! Mild sleep apnea may also be accompanied by fatigue during the day as well as snoring at night.

Your partner may notice that you have a restless sleep or wake frequently during the night. Typically, a person with sleep apnea will have no recollection of these periods of being unable to breathe. Although mild, this form of obstructive sleep apnea still needs to be treated.

Severe Sleep Apnea Symptoms

People who have severe sleep apnea stop breathing 30 times or more every hour while they’re asleep. This means they may stop breathing almost 250 times every night. Severe sleep apnea shares many common symptoms with mild sleep apnea, such as snoring, fatigue, and restless sleep, although these symptoms may be more pronounced.

If you have severe sleep apnea, you’re also much more likely to experience other health problems that come with obstructive sleep apnea, including headaches upon waking, severe fatigue during the day, and even suffering from depression. Severe sleep apnea is life- threatening and should be treated by a specialist.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Any additional medical conditions you have as well as the severity of your fatigue may influence what level of obstructive sleep apnea you have. A sleep study, which typically occurs overnight, is the most common way to properly diagnose sleep apnea. Your dentist can talk with you about your symptoms and refer you to a sleep specialist if you suspect you suffer from this disorder.

For many years, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines were considered to be the only treatment for sleep apnea. Modern advances in treatment have enabled most types of sleep apnea to be treated with oral sleep appliances. These appliances don’t fit much differently than a retainer and are easy to wear and travel with. Best of all, they help alleviate your symptoms of sleep apnea, helping your life return to normal.

Are you experiencing any symptoms of sleep apnea? Your dentist or physician can help you get a proper diagnosis so that you can get the treatment you need to experience a better night’s sleep. Talk with your dentist today about your symptoms to determine if mild or severe obstructive sleep apnea could be impacting your life and your health!

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Since there are many sugar-free options available, this may seem like the safest move away from sugar. However, growing evidence points to the fact that artificial sweeteners aren’t any better for teeth—and may contribute to cavity formation.

Artificial Sweeteners Are Acidic

When sugar is introduced into the oral cavity, it works with bacteria to release acids that can weaken tooth enamel and therefore lead to cavities. With artificial sweeteners, they work a little differently. Their ingredients can be extremely acidic, which means they still increase your risk for cavities.

Researchers have found there’s virtually no difference between drinks sweetened with real sugar and drinks sweetened with artificial ones. The acidity of these sweeteners can weaken and erode tooth enamel, therefore making your teeth susceptible to decay.

May Cause Dental Erosion

Dental erosion isn’t quite the same thing as enamel erosion. While enamel erosion specifically refers to tooth enamel, dental erosion refers to your entire tooth. Research has linked artificial sweeteners to dental erosion, meaning that they’re corrosive enough to actually wear away your teeth, similarly to the effects of teeth grinding.

How does this happen? Since artificial sweeteners are so acidic, they can eat away at the tooth even when plaque isn’t necessarily present to affect the tooth enamel. This can cause improper tooth wear and painful sensitivity. There’s a growing body of evidence that artificial sweeteners are not exactly tooth friendly alternatives!

What Can You Do?

Although it’s normally fine for most people to have sugar on occasion, your best bet is to avoid added sugar—including artificial sweeteners—altogether. Research is clear that these sweeteners really aren’t any better for your teeth and may, in fact, be worse.

This means choosing water over soda, carrots over candy, and only having a sweet treat once per day, or less. Introduce more whole, healthy foods into your diet and keep simple carbohydrates such as sugar or white bread to a minimum. To help curb cravings, keep fresh fruit on hand, but remember that fruit juice can be just as damaging as soda!

You can also protect your smile by getting regular dental checkups to ensure that your tooth enamel is safe and healthy, and that you aren’t increasing your risk for cavities with your oral care routine. Your dentist can help protect your tooth enamel through regular care and cleanings.

Remember that reducing your sugar intake or swapping out real sugar for artificial alternatives doesn’t always decrease your risk for tooth decay. While you might be tempted to reach for these sweeteners, the truth is that they’re not any more helpful to your smile than sugar is. You can keep your smile strong and healthy for life by skipping the sugar—both real and fake!

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Does laser teeth whitening damage teeth at all? Here’s what you should know about the procedure.

Uses Low Heat Methods

When you take advantage of laser teeth whitening from brands such as Zoom, low heat methods are used to avoid damaging your teeth. The heat is needed to accelerate the whitening process but is low enough that it doesn’t damage your teeth. Heat also means the solution doesn’t stay on your teeth for longer than it needs to, therefore minimizing any side effects. Higher levels of heat can cause some patients discomfort after the procedure. Fortunately, Zoom is widely used by dentists and has been shown to be a safe, effective procedure for whitening teeth. A professional cleaning is recommended beforehand to remove surface stains and reveal your true smile. This way, your dentist will be better able to whiten your teeth completely and accurately remove stains.

Protective Measures for Your Smile

Laser teeth whitening is safe because your dentist will take protective measures for your smile before and during the procedure. Before the bleaching solution is applied, your lips, gums, and inner oral tissues are fully protected. Your dentist will do this by using rubber dams over your gum tissue and retractors for your cheeks.

Finding a dentist who’s experienced and skilled at teeth whitening can help. Proper protective measures and accurate application of the whitening solution can help perfect your smile. Keeping your teeth safe during the procedure is important to prevent any side effects from the procedure.

Side Effects

The good news is that the only side effect of Zoom laser teeth whitening is mild tooth
sensitivity, which normally resolves itself after a few days. Your dentist can talk with you about what to expect and how to treat it. Usually, de-sensitizing toothpaste can help in the first few days after the procedure.

Sensitivity does not occur in all patients. It’s important to have your smile evaluated for the laser whitening procedure before it happens. Your dentist will ensure your smile is healthy and able to tolerate the whitening beforehand. If you already have sensitive teeth, talk to your dentist about how you can get a white smile without increasing tooth sensitivity.

Zoom laser teeth whitening is the professional, safe way to whiten teeth. There’s no tooth damage done and any sensitivity that results typically goes away shortly. Your dentist will take every measure possible to protect your smile during the procedure to make your teeth a beautiful shade of white afterwards. Happy smiling!

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Stress Can Lead to Bruxism

The TMJ and stress are closely related through the trigeminal nerve, which is affected by muscle tension. When you experience stress, your muscles tense in what’s known as our fight or flight response. When there’s no resolution to this physical response, you may grind your teeth.

Bruxism, the technical term for teeth grinding, is a common side affect of stress. People who grind their teeth often create symptoms of TMJ disorders, such as a sore jaw, tight muscles, and facial pain. This tension can often lead to headaches. Symptoms from stress and TMJ disorders overlap each other. Bruxism may also be a symptom of a problem with your TMJ, as the top and bottom parts of your jaw may not fit together correctly.

Tense Muscles Cause Headaches

Headaches are a common symptom of TMJ disorders. However, if you’re experiencing tight neck or face muscles from stress, this could be linked to your jaw pain. If you’re also experiencing joint popping or clicking, a TMJ disorder may be present. A sore jaw or painful chewing could mean your joint is inflamed and not working as it should. This can also lead to headaches, much like stress does. TMJ disorders can cause stress as well as be caused by stress.

Clenching your jaw or experiencing stress could actually cause a problem with your TMJ. Stress can aggravate TMJ symptoms, whether it’s the stress of a physical illness or the mental and emotional stress of a hard day at work. Even if you don’t have a TMJ problem, stress could lead to the onset of issues due to tension and inflammation.

How to Stop the Effects of TMJ and Stress

Stress can create a vicious cycle with your TMJ. If you have a preexisting problem with your jaw joint, stress can make it worse. Even if your jaw is healthy, it can actually cause a TMJ disorder. The key here is to properly manage stress to reduce the chances of problems with your TMJ.

Talk to your doctor about what types of relaxation techniques you can do. Exercise, meditation, and even simple activities such as talking to a friend or reading a book can help you reduce stress. If you’re grinding your teeth or have symptoms of a problem with your TMJ, talk to your dentist about how you can protect your teeth and relax the muscles.

Stress hugely impacts your health, especially your TMJ! Stress can also influence your risk of other health problems such as heart disease and high blood pressure. By properly managing your stress, you can help combat any TMJ problems you’re having. Talk to your dentist for more information!

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