How Your Dentist Can Help You Sleep
Problems affecting the teeth and jaws can have a wider impact on your health, including affecting your ability to get a good night’s sleep. If you find it hard to sleep due to discomfort in your mouth, or you wake up in the night choking and gasping, your dentist could help.
Learn more about the links between a healthy mouth and healthy sleep below and contact Mosman 3D Dental to discuss personalised treatments.
How oral health problems can affect sleep
If you have a toothache, sensitivity or other symptoms related to a dental problem, this could make it harder to get a restful sleep. If your sleep is frequently disturbed, this can affect your body’s ability to heal.
Oral health problems such as tooth decay and gum disease are common and usually easily treated, and delaying treatment can prolong the discomfort. Untreated infections may become worse and spread to other parts of the body if they are not treated promptly.
Snoring and sleep apnoea
If your airway becomes blocked by soft tissues or other obstructions during the night, this can cause you to wake up suddenly in the night as your body forces air into your lungs. This can result in loud snoring, choking or gasping that can disturb your sleep and that of other people around you.
Blocked airflow during sleep is known as obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and is more common in people who are older, overweight or have a narrow throat, but it can affect anyone. Misaligned jaws and swelling can also cause OSA. If you think you might have sleep apnoea, you can make an appointment with a doctor or dentist for an evaluation and to discuss your treatment options.
How a dentist can help
When you visit your dentist with possible signs of an oral health problem or sleep disorder, they will examine your mouth and discuss your symptoms. This will help them to diagnose the issue and recommend suitable treatments. In the case of OSA, an overnight sleep study with a specialist may be needed to determine the type of sleep disturbances you have.
Treatment recommendations will depend on what’s causing your trouble, and may involve:
- Oral hygiene treatments
- Filling cavities
- Treating an infected tooth
- Wearing an oral device such as a mandibular advancement splint (MAS) at night to keep your airway open
- Wearing a night guard to prevent teeth grinding and relieve pressure on the jaw joints
Daily habits to lower your risks
Your dentist can also discuss ways to improve your daily oral hygiene habits and other ways to improve the chances of getting a good night’s sleep. These may include:
- Brushing your teeth twice a day using fluoride toothpaste
- Flossing or cleaning between your teeth at least once a day
- Following a balanced diet and limiting sugar
- Getting plenty of exercise
- Keeping to a regular sleep routine
Talk to a dentist in Mosman today
If you want to see a dentist about your oral health or sleep health, our experienced team at Mosman 3D Dental could help. Get in touch today on (02) 9969 8610 or book online.