Snoring is a Symptom of a Bigger Problem
If you snore, you may be one of the people who suffers from a condition, known as sleep apnea. Snoring affects your health. During the night, people who have sleep apnea, will often stop breathing for an extended period of time. When this happens, it sets up a life-threatening event. If you have sleep apnea then, you need to have the condition treated right away. You may need to get a device that will enable you to breathe during the night, or a night guard may be made that will open up the airways.
How Snoring Can Affect Your Dental Health
If you snore, it will also affect your dental health. If you leave your mouth open during the night, it dries out the mouth, which can lead to a condition known as xerostomia. This condition also goes by the less technical name of dry mouth. If you have dry mouth, it can greatly impact your dental health, as you are not producing enough saliva. If you don’t have enough saliva, your mouth will start producing more bad bacteria than good bacteria. Therefore, you will be more susceptible to dental decay and infections.
Saliva should be present, as it helps you neutralize the bad and good bacteria in your mouth so your teeth will demineralize and remineralize like they should. Without the support of a saliva flow, you will experience higher incidences of decay, periodontitis, and problems with mouth odor. If sleep apnea is contributing to a snoring problem, you need to treat this underlying cause so you can experience better health. Snoring affects your health.
In the meantime, you should see a dentist to closely monitor your dental health. By taking a proactive approach, you will find that you can overcome the effects of dry mouth and ensure your future dental health. Snoring is often more than just an annoyance to your partner. It can also indicate that you have another medical condition – one that should be reviewed right away. Dental professionals and sleep medicine specialists often work together to treat sleep-related conditions that also affect a person’s oral health.
You will find that snoring may be causing your current dental concerns. If so, our experienced dental team is always willing to give you answers to any dental questions about sleep problems and the resulting dental problems. To schedule an appointment for a dental exam and consultation, contact River Valley Smile Center at 479-646-0706. Visit us on Facebook.
