Are you getting enough sleep? Your body definitely depends on a good night’s rest. Staying up to finish just one more episode of your favorite show or not having a regular sleep schedule can cause a lot more harm to your body than you may think. Every year, Sleep Awareness Week® sponsored by the National Sleep Foundation reminds us of the significant link between sleep and overall health. The National Sleep Foundation aims to improve health and well-being by advancing sleep health theory, research, and practice.
Besides making you feel cranky in the morning, chronic sleep deprivation has been linked to many health issues:
Sleep deprivation may be a result of an underlying sleep disorder, which your dentist may play important role in helping to identify and treat. A common sleep disorder that you may be aware of is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which impacts approximately 25 million individuals in the United States. OSA is the result of the upper airway muscles collapsing, leading to pauses in breathing during sleep. OSA prevents adequate rest as the body is repeatedly awakened due to lack of oxygen.
The Mayo Clinic highlights these common symptoms of OSA:
- Loud snoring
- Morning headaches
- Excessive daytime sleepiness
- Trouble focusing
- Irritability
OSA is harmful to the entire body, including your oral cavity. It is often characterized by mouth breathing and dry mouth, which increases the risk of developing tooth decay. Normally, saliva helps wash away sugars and food particles that stick to teeth, as well as acts as a buffer by neutralizing harmful acids that create dental cavities. OSA has also been linked to teeth grinding (bruxism) and temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ), according to the National Sleep Foundation. Some risk factors for OSA include obesity, family history of OSA, males, alcohol use, tobacco use, nasal congestion, enlarged tonsils, and an anatomically narrow airway.
If you believe that you may have OSA, speak with your primary care doctor or dentist who can refer you to a sleep specialist. Sleep specialists will be able to confirm a sleep disorder diagnosis following diagnostic tests and recommend the best options for treatment. In some cases, oral appliance therapy provided by your dental professional after confirmation of diagnosis from the sleep specialist may be used to treat mild OSA. These appliances work to help position the jaw forward to better open the airway.
Make sure you are getting adequate sleep for your well-being -you and your smile depend on it!
This pandemic has impacted us all, but our community is indeed all stronger together. Our team at WDG always has your safety and health as our top priority, and we have implemented additional safety measures and equipment to help prevent the transmission of all infections, including COVID-19. Wellesley Dental Group has completely reopened since June 8th, 2020 for all dental procedures and cleanings! Thank you for entrusting your health and dental care to us at Wellesley Dental Group.
Feel free to contact Drs. Ali & Ali and the caring team at Wellesley Dental Group if you have any thoughts or concerns; they will be happy to answer your questions! Contact us today at 781-237-9071 or smile@wellesleydentalgroup.com to set up an appointment.
Your little ones and teens are welcome to visit our pediatric dentist, Dr. Bahar Houshman and Dr. Marisa Reason is happy to help with your TMJ and orthodontic needs. For wisdom teeth extractions or any other oral surgery needs, Dr. Reisman would love to help, and our gum-specialist Dr. Singh can help with your gum-related concerns.
References:
https://www.thensf.org/sleep-awareness-week/#about-saw
https://www.healthline.com/health/sleep-deprivation/effects-on-body