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Posted on 3/20/2020 by Dr. Shiotsu |
![]() Oral Health and Healthy SleepRecent studies suggest there is a strong correlation between poor oral health and sleeping problems. The most common problem we see related to poor oral health is sleep apnea. Sleep apnea can be caused by a variety of different things, however when it comes to oral health, it is mostly caused by nighttime teeth grinding.Nighttime teeth grinding has been linked to many different oral problems, but it can also make it more difficult to get a good night's sleep. Sufferers of nighttime teeth grinding struggle to get a good night's rest because their airway is obstructed when they are grinding. Interrupted breathing makes for a bad night's rest, and it'll make most people feel as if they didn't even sleep during the night. Treating Teeth GrindingThere are a couple of ways to solve nighttime teeth grinding. First, it is necessary to evaluate your mouth. If you're missing teeth, this could be the cause of your nighttime grinding. When you have been missing teeth for a long time, they can shift in your mouth, giving you an uneven bite and weakening your jaw muscles. Once your bite becomes misaligned, it becomes easier to grind your teeth because they are biting in the wrong place.If you're missing teeth, we can help you. Give us a call to our office to schedule a consultation meeting where we can evaluate your mouth to see if your missing teeth might be the cause of nighttime grinding and sleep apnea. |
![]() Goichi Shiotsu, DDS Mercer Island, Washington |