Snoring and bruxism (grinding) can affect your oral health in significant ways. From drying out your teeth to breaking them, these two sleep-based complications may require essential dental care. If you notice snoring, or experience jaw soreness when you wake up, consider visiting Dr. Sancerie O’Rourke-Allen for assistance.
Snoring and Your Smile
Many individuals think that snoring during sleep is normal. While it is common, heavy breathing at night can be much more severe than an annoyance to those around you. The rough sound and breathing issues are the result of your airways being partially restricted throughout slumber. The blockage occurs when the roof your mouth, tongue, and throat relax so much that the muscles collapse on themselves.
Some complications that snoring contributes to include:
• Bad breath
• Dry mouth syndrome
• Tooth Decay
• Gum disease
Breathing heavily during rest may seem like nothing to worry about, the truth is that prolonged snoring is a direct sign of sleep apnea which can dramatically impact your dental health and overall well-being.
What is Bruxism and What Contributes to It?
More commonly known as teeth grinding, sleep bruxism is an unconscious condition that causes significant damage to teeth. Since it’s involuntary, you are unaware of it during sleep. The pressure bruxism puts on your jaw can be ten times greater than when you chew food. When eating, most of the stress is absorbed by food. With sleep bruxism, however, your teeth are exposed to the entire force of your jaws.
Individuals that grind their teeth are often more concerned by the fact that the pressure caused by jaw clenching produces painful headaches. The reality of their oral health being compromised doesn’t usually cross one’s mind. Although close together, teeth are not meant to touch each other. The only time they are intended to come in contact is for eating and chewing. Catching bruxism as soon as possible is very important because it can wear down the protective enamel of your teeth. In some cases, substantial grinding can expose the layer of dentin, causing tooth sensitivity or decay.
For many adults, bruxism is a result of stress, anxiety, or acid reflux. Frequent consumption of alcohol, caffeine, or the use of tobacco products can increase your chances of developing bruxism.
If you are experiencing symptoms of bruxism or think you may have developed a snoring disorder, it is essential to seek treatment provided by your dental professional.
Consider Baton Rouge, LA dentist, Dr. Sancerie O'Rourke-Allen for comprehensive bruxism and snoring diagnosis therapy today.