Snoring and Sleep Apnea

Thirty to fifty percent of adults snore.  Snoring increases with age and is more common in men than in women.  Forty percent of men and twenty percent of women over thirty snore habitually.  Fifty percent of them have obstructive sleep apnea which can be life threatening. Alarmingly, eighty percent of them are undiagnosed.

Proper diagnosis for sleep apnea is necessary before treating snoring.  Snorers don’t necessarily have OSA or OSA patients are not necessarily snorers.

 Most common form of sleep apnea is Obstructive Sleep Apnea or OSA.   Mild to moderate OSA can be effectively treated by dentists using oral appliances.  Favorable compliance with use of oral appliances makes it a more successful option of treating OSA than the more cumbersome and the less favored medical options. 

Causes of air passage restriction include that cause snoring and/or sleep apnea include-

Obstruction of nasal airway

Weak throat muscles with advancing age or use of medications and alcohol.

Sleeping position

Obesity

It is said that we can live three weeks without food, three days without water but only three minutes without oxygen. OSA can take off twelve to fifteen years of one’s life while smoking and Type 2 Diabetes shorten by five to ten years.

Consult your dentist or sleep physician for more information on the condition and treatment options.

 Call 909 627-6699 for appointment or visit www.mydentistchino.com  for more  information on our services.

Bruxism Solutions

 Refer to last week's post for tooth grinding causes and symptoms-

 

If stress is the cause of tooth grinding, then self-relaxation techniques, such as listening to music, taking a walk, or a having warm bath may help. Applying a warm, wet washcloth to the side of the face may help relax muscles, as well. Consulting qualified health care professionals is also recommended to relieve stress.

Keep in mind, however, that eliminating stress is not always the answer in preventing tooth grinding. An appliance, most commonly known as a nightguard, can be made by a dentist to alleviate signs and symptoms of tooth grinding. A thin layer of plastic (hard or soft) is molded to fit snugly over the teeth.. This appliance can be worn during the day or while you sleep. Nightguards help protect your teeth and any dental work, such as fillings and crowns, from wearing down or even fracturing. The nightguard can also help relieve excess pressure on the jaw joint and prevent damage to it. The appliance, also referred to as an occlusal splint, helps reduce pressure to the teeth and prevent damage to the gums and bone surrounding the teeth.

"Over the years, many patients have asked  if over the counter(OTC) mouthguards work", says Dr. Cherukuri.  "Patients initially choose them because of the relatively low cost and discover very quickly that they are unable to wear them at night because they are oversize and bulky.  Mouthguards outside of mouth have very limited benefits", she adds humorously.

It is important to use a very carefully calibrated occlusal splint to improve or correct the bite discrepancies and OTC mouthguards may end up causing more harm. Dr. Cherukuri cautions.

Bruxism or Tooth Grinding

Approximately 50 to 96 percent of adults experience bruxism (tooth grinding), and 15 percent of children acquire this behavior. The habit can occur during the day or at night, and more often than not, goes unnoticed by the person doing it.

There are several reasons why we may grind our teeth, including an abnormal bite or crooked or missing teeth. However, the most common reason for teeth grinding is stress. It is well known that increased stress levels can have a negative effect on one’s overall health, and these days, with the pressures and stresses of everyday life, many people are noticing that they grind their teeth more often.

Since most cases of bruxism occur while you sleep, how do you know if you grind your teeth? You may wake yourself up due to the grinding sound or from the pressure of clenching your jaw. In other circumstances, someone else may be able to see or even hear you doing it. However, because most patients are unaware that they are grinding their teeth, symptoms such as waking up with a headache, toothache, or earache, as well as tenderness to the face, jaw muscles, and/or the teeth and gums are all possible signs of bruxism. During a routine dental check-up, your dentist or dental hygienist may detect worn-down teeth or worn-down dental work on fillings or crowns. Over time, grinding can wear away or fracture tooth enamel and may eventually loosen teeth.

Grinding teeth is a common occurrence for most people at one time or another. If you suspect that you are routinely grinding your teeth, consult with a dentist as soon as possible says Dr. Cherukuri, from her Chino; California dental practice.

For solutions, tune in next week!