Sleep concerns affect many Americans, and these have wide and far-reaching implications for your waking hours. While some of these are external factors outside of your control, like a noisy neighborhood, others are things that you can address.
But often, patients will delay treatment for these concerns and just write them off as minimal issues. Or they may not be aware of them until a loved one mentions their snoring. But you could be doing serious damage to your oral health and your overall health as well during this time.
Today, your Newport Beach, CA dentist explains how by ignoring these concerns, you could be putting yourself at more serious risk. And finally reach your full potential by maximizing your sleep. Feel better and look better while paving a beautiful path forward for your future!
The Peace You Didn’t Know Existed
One of the most common overnight concerns lies in sleep apnea, or momentarily pausing breath due to an obstruction in the airway. This happens most often through a relaxation of the throat muscles during REM sleep, and it may be exacerbated by how you sleep. Men are more likely to experience this, as are people who are heavier or have other health concerns.
Often, these patients are completely unaware that this is a medical issue until a loved one mentions it. And if they have been dealing with this for years, it might be something that they write off. After hearing about it for so long, people can become stubborn with something that they think is not that big of a deal.
But the use of a nightly worn custom mouthguard might deliver some relief, for your health and your comfort. Patients with sleep apnea are much more likely to experience a heart attack or stroke. The average blood pressue for an apnea patient is also higher than that of a healthy individual.
A mouthguard forces the jaw to rest slightly more forward than you naturally sit. By doing this, the airway remains open throughout the night, ensuring that you receive oxygen consistently. This can eliminate the need for a noisy and large CPAP machine or even surgery!
Save Your Enamel
Bruxism, or the term for the clenching and grinding of teeth, can lead to serious problems within the mouth. Our jaws are stronger than we imagine, and when they collide, there can be disastrous results. This motion can lead to chips or cracks in your teeth, or the wearing down of the hard surface known as enamel.
When this is fully worn, it exposes the interior portion of our tooth, which can foster a nasty infection. When this happens, the result is usually a root canal or even infection. So talk with your dentist today about the possibility of a custom mouthguard!
Call For More Information!
You don’t have to live with poor sleep and its consequences. To schedule an appointment, please give Dr. Hofkes at Balboa Dental Surgery a call at (949)630-0143. Or stop by our office here in Newport Beach, CA!
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