Sleep apnea has many effects on the body, but did you know that it can also affect your oral health? Here’s how untreated sleep apnea may cause problems for your smile!

Dry Mouth Can Lead to an Increased Risk for Cavities

In obstructive sleep apnea, your airway becomes blocked during sleep due to the muscles collapsing around the airway, leading to an inability to get air into the lungs. The brain will then signal you to wake up so breathing can resume.

When air has trouble getting into the lungs yet has not stopped completely, it will create a vibration in your throat leading to snoring. Snoring is one of the most common symptoms of sleep apnea.

Snoring also causes the mouth to remain open during sleep in an effort to get enough air into the body. Breathing through the mouth causes the oral cavity to dry out, which can lead to an increase in oral bacteria that could influence your risk for cavities [1].

Saliva flow is already reduced during sleep, so mouth breathing can exacerbate this effect to make tooth enamel damage more likely.

People With Sleep Disorders May Be More at Risk for Bruxism

Research has linked sleep disorders such as sleep apnea to an increased risk for bruxism, also known as teeth grinding [2]. The connection isn’t well understood, but people who suffer from sleep apnea should be evaluated for teeth grinding during their regular dental exam.

Getting treatment for bruxism is essential, as it can lead to fractured teeth, gum inflammation, and even tooth loss. Symptoms may include morning headaches, sensitive teeth, or a sore jaw or teeth.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea Has Been Associated With Gum Disease

If you suffer from obstructive sleep apnea, which is the most common type of sleep apnea, you may be more at risk for gum disease [3].

While the link between the two isn’t conclusive, experts speculate that the systemic inflammation OSA causes may make gum disease more likely. However, more research is needed to better understand the connection between the two disorders.

What Can You Do?

There are a few things you can do to help reduce sleep apnea’s effect on your smile:

• Get treatment for sleep apnea. Getting treatment for sleep apnea can help reduce or
  eliminate your symptoms and protect your oral health!
• Don’t put off those dental visits. Your dentist can help you manage any oral health issues you’re having as the result of your sleep apnea. Your dentist may even be able to help treat your sleep apnea through what’s called an oral appliance, which is a retainer- like device that helps keep your airway open when sleeping.
• Engage in regular oral care. Keeping your smile healthy by brushing and flossing daily in addition to eating healthy can help you keep your teeth and gums problem-free for a beautiful smile!

If you suffer from sleep apnea, don’t neglect those regular dental visits—they could save your smile and even help address your sleep apnea symptoms with oral appliance therapy!

Sources:
1. https://www.sleepfoundation.org/articles/have-sleep-apnea-why-you-shouldnt-put-
2. http://marketplace.ada.org/blog/dental-sleep-apnea-how-sleep-disorders-affect-your-
3. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19198909/

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But how exactly does your sleep schedule impact your dental health? Here’s what you need to know when it comes to getting proper sleep and your tooth and gum health!

Lack of Sleep Could Increase Your Risk for Gum Disease

Sleep deprivation can affect your risk for gum disease and even influence the severity of gum disease [2]. Researchers suspect the link here is inflammation—when the body doesn’t get enough sleep, it tends to produce more inflammatory hormones.

Inflammation is a key component in gum disease, as it can cause the gums to swell and become irritated, usually as the result of bacteria that’s accumulated around the gumline. However, lack of sleep can cause gum disease to become worse—and cause the need for more advanced treatment to reverse the condition.

Sleep Keeps the Immune System Strong

Your immune system plays an important role in fighting off potential oral infections such as gum disease and even oral thrush. Fortunately, sleep helps keep the immune system strong to be able to defend the body against such infections [3].

When you don’t get enough sleep, whether due to an irregular sleep schedule or a hectic lifestyle, you effectively lower your immunity and make your oral cavity more susceptible to problems.

Disrupted or Poor Sleep Can Impact Oral Health

People who experience disrupted sleep are at an increased risk to experience poor oral health, according to research [4]. A prime example of this is people who snore or have sleep apnea—their mouth breathing and consistently interrupted sleep makes proper rest impossible, leading to lower immunity and a higher risk for oral health problems.

Mouth breathing such as that seen in sleep apnea or in people who snore can also dry out the oral cavity and lead to an increased risk for cavities. Fortunately, seeking treatment for sleep apnea can help lower your risk!

How to Get a Good Night’s Sleep

Consistency is important when it comes to sleep—while everyone is different, a good general rule is to get a minimum of seven hours every night. Ideally, you should wake up and go to bed at the same time to maintain your schedule.

If you have trouble sleeping, reducing your caffeine and sugar intake at least two hours before bed, avoiding bright lights (especially blue light emitted from electronic devices), and sleeping in a cool, dark room may help improve your sleep quality. Getting a good night’s sleep is essential for more than just your body—your teeth and gums will thank you as well!

Sources:
1. http://healthysleep.med.harvard.edu/healthy/matters/consequences/sleep-and-
disease-risk
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4520116/
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3256323/
4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5536213/

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Dysfunction of your temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a noted cause of headaches such as
migraines [1]. Your TMJ connects your lower jaw to the skull and allows you to chew and speak
with ease. However, when a problem exists with the TMJ, pain and discomfort are often the result. Let’s take a closer look at the link between TMJ disorders and migraines.

Muscle Tension Can Cause Migraines

When the TMJ is stressed, out of alignment, or inflamed, it can affect the surrounding muscles
which exist underneath your jaw and on the sides of your head.

In turn, the muscles that support the TMJ can become tense and this tension can radiate out
into the head, neck, and even your shoulders or back.

The TMJ is a powerful joint that allows us to chew tough foods. When something is amiss with
this important joint, it’s not surprising that it has the power to cause painful migraines as a
result of inflammation and stress.

You May Have a Misaligned Bite

Why would the TMJ become stressed or inflamed?

TMJ disorders are often caused by malocclusion, which is the incorrect position of the teeth
when the jaw is closed. Having a malocclusion means your bite is misaligned and can put strain
on your jaw.

With an improper bite, your jaw is constantly trying to compensate for the misalignment, so
tension and stress result, especially on the surrounding muscles. A misaligned bite or issues with the TMJ can also make teeth grinding more likely, which can also lead to headaches or migraines!

Treatment That Actually Works

While not all headaches will be attributable to TMJ disorders, ruling out TMJ as the cause could
be an essential part of treating your migraines [2].

If your doctor has ruled out a medical cause for your migraines, it’s time to visit your dentist.

Your dentist can conduct a thorough exam and be able to tell if a problem with your TMJ could
be causing your headaches.

Unfortunately, many people who experience migraines never suspect that their jaw may be the
culprit, leading their pain to go either undiagnosed and improperly treated.

If your TMJ is found to be the underlying issue, your dentist can put measures in place to treat
your TMJ pain. If a misaligned bite is the issue, orthodontics or other oral appliances may be
able to help. For some patients, stress is found to be the cause of their TMJ inflammation and
so stress management is essential.

Physical therapy may also be able to help. It’s also important that you don’t exert your TMJ by
chewing gum or other foods that are particularly hard to eat.

When understanding the link between migraines and TMJ, it’s important to know that problems
with the TMJ can actually cause severe headaches. By simply visiting your dentist, you could
rule out a potential problem or even uncover the root cause of your pain and receive treatment
that actually works!

Sources:
1. https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/Patient-Caregiver-Education/Hope-Through-
Research/Headache-Hope-Through-Research
2. https://healthcare.utah.edu/the-scope/shows.php?shows=0_bt01oaam

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So what exactly does your nightly snoring mean? Here’s why you might not want to ignore
snoring, especially if this habit is disrupting your life.

Sleep Apnea

Snoring is one of the most common symptoms of sleep apnea. Although there are three
different types of sleep apnea, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common. Obstructive
sleep apnea happens when the airway becomes partially or completely blocked when sleeping,
which can lead to snoring.

When OSA is present, a person will actually stop breathing during the night and the body will
wake itself up to begin breathing regularly again. This stopping and starting of breathing can be
very jarring for the body and has the potential to lead to a variety of unpleasant health
symptoms.

Conditions Linked to Sleep Apnea

When the body pauses breathing so many times during sleep, oxygen levels in the blood drop.
Since sleep apnea causes the body undue stress due to cessation of breathing, several different
chronic health conditions have been associated with sleep apnea. These include:

 Heart disease
 Headaches
 High blood pressure
 Stroke
 Obesity
 Mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety
 Diabetes

Since many sufferers of sleep apnea also feel very fatigued during the day, there is an increased
chance for accidents such as car accidents during waking hours.

While not everyone who snores will have sleep apnea—and not everyone who has sleep apnea
will snore—it’s imperative to attain a proper diagnosis for your symptoms before jumping to
conclusions or receiving any type of treatment.

What Else Could Snoring Mean?

Snoring doesn’t always mean sleep apnea is present. Snoring can be caused by uniquely formed
nasal passages, such as people who have a deviated septum, who may be more prone to
snoring.

People who frequently have sinus infections may also be more likely to snore. Having muscles
in the throat that relax too much—which can be caused by medications such as narcotics as
well as alcohol consumption—can also cause the airway to collapse during sleep.

Being overweight is also a risk factor for snoring, as excess tissue around the neck and throat
can depress the airway while sleeping.

In order to discover the true cause of your snoring, the first step is often the dentist. Dentists
often come into contact with sleep apnea and while they can talk with you about your
symptoms, you’ll be referred to a sleep specialist for an official diagnosis.

Your dentist can, however, assist you with treating sleep apnea with oral appliances, which help
to keep the airway open during sleep, stop your cessation of breathing, and over time, decrease
your symptoms. Are you worried that you suffer from sleep apnea as a result of snoring? Don’t
wait to get your symptoms evaluated—you can start feeling better with the right treatment!

The post Your Nightly Snoring Could Mean More Than You Think appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Sleep apnea has several causes, and unless the underlying problem is resolved, it’s unlikely that
you would grow out of sleep apnea. Here’s how some people may be able to resolve their sleep
apnea while others will need permanent management.

Addressing the Cause

The primary cause of sleep apnea is muscles in your airway relaxing to the point that they
actually collapse and prevent you from breathing. The cause of this could be obesity or the use
of certain medications or even alcohol which can relax the muscles in the throat too much.
These are risk factors for sleep apnea that you may be able to control, so you do have the
chance to resolve your sleep apnea, although you won’t grow out of it without addressing the
root cause.

You shouldn’t avoid treatment because you think you’ll be able to grow out of your sleep
apnea, especially when this disorder severely impacts your quality of life through headaches,
fatigue, high blood pressure, and premature death.

People Who Cannot Grow Out of Sleep Apnea

Some people have a unique facial structure that predisposes them to sleep apnea even if they
don’t have any other risk factors. This includes having a narrow throat or a thick neck. Often,
people who are overweight or obese have excess skin around the neck, making them more
likely to have sleep apnea.

People who have been diagnosed with sleep apnea as a result of their unique constitution will
not be able to grow out of it. For these sufferers of sleep apnea, finding the right management
of the disorder is essential to curb the symptoms.

What About Children?

Children have a better chance to grow out of sleep apnea, especially if the root cause is
addressed. For children, enlarged tonsils or even an overbite could be contributing to their
sleep apnea. Finding the cause is essential to treating sleep apnea in children.

Parents shouldn’t avoid treatment because they believe their child will eventually grow out of
it. This is not true for some children. If sleep apnea persists pasts adolescence, the disorder is
much more likely to be a chronic problem and will need suitable treatment to stop the
symptoms.

People who suffer from sleep apnea are unlikely to grow out of the disorder. Children have a
better chance than adults, but they should never forgo treatment because of this. It’s
imperative to uncover the cause of your sleep apnea so that you can work to manage or even
possibly eliminate the disorder.

Your dentist can talk with you about your sleep apnea symptoms or those of your child and
refer you to a sleep specialist for a proper diagnosis so you can get the treatment you need to
get your health back!

The post Can You Grow Out of Sleep Apnea? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Although dentists cannot provide an official diagnosis for sleep apnea, these professionals are
often the first people to come into contact with the disorder and can provide further guidance
and even initiate treatment.

Here’s how your dentist can help with your sleep apnea diagnosis and treatment.

Recognizing the Signs and Symptoms

Since patients usually see their dentist more often than their primary care doctor, your dentist
is often able to recognize the signs and symptoms of sleep apnea before your doctor is able to
make the diagnosis.

These signs and symptoms include enamel erosion as a result of dry mouth from snoring, teeth
grinding (bruxism), and inflamed gum tissue.

Your dentist may ask you questions such as whether or not you wake up with a headache, if you
snore, if you have other health conditions linked with sleep apnea—such as high blood
pressure—or if you feel fatigued throughout the day.

Getting a Diagnosis

If your dentist suspects you may be suffering from sleep apnea, he or she can refer you to a
sleep specialist for an official diagnosis.

Although dentists are trained to recognize and treat sleep apnea, a confirmed diagnosis from a
sleep specialist is required before treatment can be done. This is to ensure you’re getting the
correct diagnosis and treatment plan that you need to get better.

Your sleep specialist will likely recommend you have an overnight sleep study done to
determine if you have sleep apnea. Once a diagnosis is made, you can talk about your options
and come up with the right course of treatment for you.

Receiving Treatment

Although continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines have long been the traditional
form of treatment for sleep apnea, many patients are unable to comply with this form of
treatment due to discomfort or inconvenience.

This is where your dentist comes in. Your dentist can help treat your sleep apnea through oral
sleep appliances, which aren’t much different from a retainer but will slightly shift your jaw
forward in order to keep your airway open while sleeping, therefore eliminating your cessation
of breathing during sleep and reducing your sleep apnea symptoms.

People who receive oral sleep appliance therapy from their dentist are often more able to
comply with their treatment and see their sleep apnea symptoms disappear once they begin
getting a good night’s sleep again.

Since sleep apnea can affect your entire life, from your daily performance to your risk for
chronic diseases, getting an official diagnosis is essential to receiving the right treatment that
can help restore your quality of life. Your dentist is an integral part of this process, so visit your
dentist today if you suspect you suffer from sleep apnea!

The post How Does a Dentist Diagnose Sleep Apnea? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

When this happens, your teeth are absorbing a huge amount of pressure. Experts speculate
that the amount of pressure exerted by the jaw during teeth grinding is up to ten times that
which is normally exerted while chewing. As a result, this can wear down your tooth enamel.
Once tooth enamel is gone, it can’t be replaced, leading to sensitive teeth, cavities, and even
tooth discoloration.

Can Fracture or Chip Teeth

Teeth that are being ground against each other have an increased risk of being fractured or
chipped. This is especially true if they are repeatedly exposed to grinding, which can create tiny
fractures in the teeth that can eventually lead to chips and breaks.

A chipped or fractured tooth will need to be evaluated by your dentist as soon as possible, as it
can expose tooth roots and may lead to the need for root canal therapy if an infection ensues.
This will also require dental bonding or another form of treatment to restore your smile. Your
dentist will be able to tell if you grind your teeth and help you seek treatment!

Damages Gum Tissue

Although it might seem like teeth grinding wouldn’t impact your gums, the opposite is true.
Over time, the pressure of grinding your teeth can irritate your gum tissue and cause
inflammation. Your gums may even become irritated to the point that the ligaments that help
hold your teeth into place become threatened.

When gum tissue is damaged in this way, it can cause loose teeth and pockets of infection near
the gumline, therefore mimicking symptoms of gum disease. It’s essential to see your dentist to
uncover the root cause and understand why your teeth and gums are being affected so. Some
people grind their teeth while sleeping and are unaware of it!

Teeth grinding is a terrible habit that can affect your smile for life. Your dentist can not only tell
if you grind your teeth, but help you seek treatment for this condition. From wearing down
your tooth enamel to breaking your teeth to damaging gum tissue, bruxism should not be taken
lightly. Schedule an appointment with your dentist today if you suspect you grind your teeth!

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Sleep apnea should be evaluated and addressed due to its devastating effects on the body. How
do you know whether or not you’re suffering from sleep apnea? Here are the top signs you may
need to seek help!

Snoring

If you know you snore or your partner tells you that you snore, this is a sign of an obstructed
airway and could point to sleep apnea. Snoring is one of the top signs of this sleep disorder and
is best evaluated by a sleep specialist.

One of the most common types of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep apnea, in which the airway
is blocked by the tissues of the throat, your tongue, or the anatomy of your airway. Snoring
could be indicative of sleep apnea, so get a sleep specialist to check, especially if you’re
experiencing these other symptoms.

Fatigue

Daytime or excessive fatigue is common in people who have sleep apnea. As a result of the
repeated waking during the night from not being able to breathe, your body isn’t able to get
the deep rest that it needs to function during the day.

If you’re excessively tired all the time and still get enough sleep at night, sleep apnea could be
the culprit. This should be evaluated as soon as possible, as daytime fatigue can lead to lack of
concentration and accidents!

Headaches

Having a headache is a painful experience that affects how you function. If you have a
persistent headache, you might be suffering from sleep apnea and not know it.

Since your body is deprived of oxygen in the presence of sleep apnea, this can lead the brain to
be deficient in oxygen as well. This can create headaches or migraines that may be present only
upon waking or throughout the day.If you have unexplained headaches, it’s time to consider if
sleep apnea could be the cause.

Other Health Problems

Sleep apnea can affect your risk for many other health problems. These include heart disease,
high blood pressure, and diabetes. If you suffer from any of these health problems in
combination with the signs above, it’s time to get evaluated for sleep apnea.

Since sleep apnea can be responsible for other health concerns and even cause premature
death, it’s important to seek treatment for your sleep apnea. Treatment can eliminate your
symptoms and help your body function normally again—and you’ll feel better!

Are you seeing any of the above signs in your daily life? From snoring to headaches to fatigue,
sleep apnea can be responsible for all of these symptoms and more. Your dentist can refer you
to a sleep specialist who can help you with a diagnosis. There is hope and treatment for sleep
apnea, so seek help today!

The post Top Signs You May Be Suffering from Sleep Apnea appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

These episodes can happen only few times a night or hundreds. Sleep apnea hugely affects your overall health, but fortunately, your dentist can help treat the problem. Here’s why you shouldn’t ignore sleep apnea and what your dentist can do about it.

Sleep Apnea Increases Risk for Chronic Disease

Sleep apnea is a dangerous, life-threatening condition. This is because your body is being deprived of necessary oxygen during the periods that you can’t breathe. Among its many health effects, sleep apnea can:

Put you at higher risk for high blood pressure
Increase your risk for heart problems including heart attacks and stroke
Raise your risk for depression and mood swings
Increase your risk for diabetes
Cause headaches

Since sleep apnea deprives the brain of oxygen, it can also impact your cognitive skills and ability to remain awake throughout the day. This increases your risk of being involved in an accident and your overall risk of death.

Not Getting Enough Sleep Impacts Your Entire Body

In addition to increasing your risk for serious health problems, sleep apnea also impacts your day-to-day life. This condition can cause weight gain, asthma, and acid reflux. Sleep apnea has also been found to be responsible for weakening the immune system, therefore making your body more susceptible to illness.

When it comes to cognitive performance, sleep apnea greatly impacts memory. It could lead to memory loss much earlier in life. When your body isn’t able to get a deep, restful sleep, it isn’t able to store and catalogue information as well as it might have if you’d not been woken up repeatedly.

Your Dentist Can Provide a Simple Solution

The good news about sleep apnea is that it usually has a simple solution, especially if you have the most common type, which is obstructive sleep apnea. During obstructive sleep apnea, your airway is suppressed by one or a combination of several different factors, including muscles that relax too much, being overweight, or the structure of your head and neck. Regardless of what’s causing your obstructive sleep apnea, you can combine oral sleep appliances with the necessary lifestyle changes your doctor recommends for treatment.

An oral sleep appliance is a custom-made, small device that fits easily in your mouth to keep your airway open while you’re sleeping. Patients usually find it much easier to wear than the traditional sleep apnea breathing mask. The best part is that it can alleviate your sleep apnea symptoms!

If you’re experiencing symptoms of sleep apnea, don’t ignore what could be a life-threatening condition. Your dentist can talk with you about your symptoms and refer you to a sleep specialist for diagnosis. You can continue treatment at your dentist office to start feeling good again!

The post Sleep Apnea Affects Your Overall Health, and Your Dentist Can Help appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease, more commonly known as acid reflux disease, is when powerful acids from your stomach end up in your esophagus. This damaging disorder can cause traces of these acids to wind up in your mouth, causing enamel erosion and dental caries. Many people don’t realize that acid reflux could actually be a warning sign of sleep apnea, as the acids can back up in your esophagus and cause coughing which wakes you up.

Depression

If you’ve been feeling depressed or tired, it might not be what you think. You could actually be suffering from sleep apnea. Sleep apnea causes you to wake frequently during the night, and these disrupted sleep patterns could impact how serotonin works in your brain, causing you to feel depressed. The effect works two ways—decreased serotonin levels could also cause a disrupted sleep cycle!

Cognitive Disorders

Research indicates that people who have sleep apnea get diagnosed with cognitive disorders an average of ten years earlier than people who don’t have the disorder. Experts speculate that this is the result of a lack of oxygen in the blood, which means the brain can’t properly remove toxins or store memories. The effects may be memory loss or worse—early dementia or Alzheimer’s.

Mood Swings

Sleep hugely impacts your mood, research shows. When you get only a few hours of sleep every night, anxiety, stress, agitation, and more mood swings can become part of your daily life. If you’ve been seeing a dramatic change in your moods but are still getting that 8 hours every night, talk to your dentist, who can refer you to a sleep specialist. You could be waking up every few minutes and not know it!

Sexual Dysfunction

People with sleep apnea often experience a decreased sex drive or erectile dysfunction. This can be the result of a lack of deep sleep, which can negatively impact testosterone levels. Testosterone plays an important role in sex drive for both men and women. This is one symptom of sleep apnea that’s commonly overlooked, as people can be hesitant to talk about this with their physicians.

If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, schedule a consultation with either your dentist or a sleep specialist. Your dentist can talk with you about your symptoms and perform and oral exam that’ll reveal the state of your oral health. Acid reflux has a huge impact on dental enamel, so you may need treatment for this along with sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is considered a chronic disorder that can severely impact your health—don’t wait to seek a diagnosis or get treatment!

Image courtesy of FrameAngel at freedigitalphotos.net

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