Sleep Apnea Tooth cavities and other oral problems are usually caused by poor oral hygiene. When bacteria accumulate in your mouth, it creates acid that erodes your enamel, which eventually leads to cavities. They also create infections that lead to gum disease and toothaches. While bacteria is the most common cause of dental problems, it is not the only reason people develop oral problems. There are also some health conditions like sleep apnea that can lead to oral issues. GOREgeous Smiles is dedicated to helping you understand common health conditions that can affect your dental health and how to deal with them. What is Sleep Apnea?Sleep apnea is a health condition that involves the interruption of breathing patterns. Your breathing can stop several times at night due to the blockage of the airways. When experiencing this condition, the blood's oxygen levels usually drop, and carbon dioxide builds up in your system. This creates a rise in your blood pressure, causing you to wake up for a short period to continue the breathing process. Most people fail to notice when it is happening to them. Sleep apnea is usually classified into three different types: obstructive sleep apnea, which is the blockage of air in your airways. Another is central sleep apnea, which mostly happens when your brain does not signal your muscles to continue breathing. The last one is complex sleep apnea, a combination of the two apneas. Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common one and affects millions of people worldwide. How Is Sleep Apnea Connected to Oral Health?Sleep apnea does not only affect your sleep quality. It has also been linked to oral health as it can increase the risk of gum disease, tooth decay, and other dental conditions. One way it damages your teeth is by causing dry mouth. This is because sleep apnea makes breathing difficult, and when that happens, you may begin to snore while you try to gasp for more air. On the other hand, snoring causes dry mouth as it lowers your saliva production, which in turn allows bacteria to create more damage to your teeth since your mouth is dry. Sleep apnea also causes teeth grinding because it makes it hard for you to have a peaceful night's rest. A stressful night can make you grind your teeth constantly, and when you do that, it leads to a condition known as temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ) because teeth grinding creates more pressure on your jaw. Sleep Apnea DiagnosisDentists help diagnose sleep apnea problems because the condition is linked to dental health. The dentist usually takes regular oral examinations to determine if your dental problem is caused by sleep apnea. We will look for signs such as large tonsils, irregular breathing, obesity, and large neck circumference, among many other things. If your dentist realizes you have sleep apnea, we will ensure your dental health remains intact. For example, we might give you a night mouthguard to minimize teeth grinding. The Best Treatment OptionTo get the best treatment option for your sleep apnea, visit our GOREgeous Smiles dental clinic today to prevent further teeth damage caused by the condition. You can reach us through 480-585-6225, and we will answer all of your questions concerning sleep apnea and dental health. |
