Wake up! Most people don’t associate a good night’s sleep with oral health. But if you’re suffering from sleep problems, your dentist can help. Most dentist will not charge you for evaluation for sleep problems.This is a medical problem with a dental solution and most medical insurances cover the cost of treatment.
If you don’t get enough sleep, your body won’t work properly. Do you snore or grind your teeth at night? Both problems will affect your sleep.
You may be among the 45% of normal adults who snore at least occasionally or you likely know someone who does. He (or she) may be the brunt of jokes at family gatherings (“Uncle Joe snores so loudly he rattles the windows!”), but snoring is serious business.
For one, a snoring spouse often keeps the other person from a good night’s sleep, which can eventually lead to separate bedrooms. “Snoring can create real problems in a marriage,” says Daniel P. Slaughter, MD, an otolaryngologist and snoring expert at Capital Otolaryngology in Austin, Texas.
Do-it-Yourself remedies to stop snoring:
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If you’re overweight, lose weight.
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Sleep on your side.
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Raise the head of your bed.
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Nasal strips. Adhesive strips applied to your nose could help
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Limit or avoid alcohol and sedatives. Avoid drinking alcoholic beverages at least two hours before bedtime.
Sedatives and alcohol depress your central nervous system, causing excessive relaxation of muscles, including the tissues in your throat.
Studies show 75% of people who snore have obstructive sleepapnea.
Sleep Apnea could result to the following health problems:
- High Blood Pressure.
- Coronary Artery Disease and Heart Attack.
- Stroke. Sleep apnea may increase the risk of death in patients who have previously had a stroke.
- Heart Failure.
- Atrial Fibrillation.
- Diabetes. Severe obstructive sleep apnea is associated with type 2 diabetes.
- Obesity. sleep apnea increases the risk for weight gain.
- Pulmonary hypertension (high pressure in the arteries of the lungs).
- Asthma.
- Seizures, epilepsy, and other nerve disorders.
- High-risk pregnancies. Sleep apnea may increase the risk of pregnancy complications, including gestational diabetes and high blood pressure.
- Eye disorders, including glaucoma, floppy eyelid syndrome, optic neuropathy
How could my dentist help my snoring ?
Most dentists have undergone special training for the treatment of snoring and sleep apnea and are very skilled in its management using dental appliances.Your dentist can help you keep from snoring by ordering you a dental device that resembles a mouthguard worn by athletes. If you have sleep apnea, consult with your dentist for additional options. You may require an oral appliance that opens the airway and reduces the obstruction.
How oral appliances work:
- Re-positioning the lower jaw, tongue, soft palate and uvula
- Stabilizing the lower jaw and tongue
- Increasing the muscle tone of the tongue.
If you grind your teeth at night, your dentist can prescribe an oral appliance to protect your tooth enamel.
Call your dentist today and ask for a free consult for sleep problem evaluation.
Dr. Parvin Carter has over 30 years of experience in Dentistry; she is a Preferred Provider of Invisalign and the director of A Redding Invisalign Center. She received her degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery, from Indiana University Dental School, in 1982, after which she immediately opened her private practice.
In July 1990 she received fellowship award from academy of General Dentistry. This award requires 600 hours of continuing education and passing required examination. In July 2000 Dr. Carter received Mastership award from Academy of General Dentistry. This is the highest award for continuing education. This award requires 800 hours of participation in dentistry specialties. According to the Journal of the Academy of General Dentistry, only 1% of US dentists achieve this high level of advancement.
Dr. Carter’s expertise are:
Invisalign, orthodontics, advanced TMJ treatment, oral surgery, sleep Disorders, placement of implants, restorations of cosmetic dentistry, whole mouth rehabilitation, fixed and removable prosthodontic, periodontics (soft tissue management), tooth and implant supported over dentures, endodontics, molars and anterior and sedation dentistry.
Dr. Parvin Carter is Certified and Preferred Provider of Invisalign. She has successfully treated over 368 patients with Invisalign. To find out more please see http://drparvincarter.com.
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