Cosmetic Dentistry Blog

Doctors believe that there are more than 18 million people living with sleep apnea and many of them are undiagnosed. Sleep apnea causes repeated pauses in breathing throughout the night.

More men than women have sleep apnea, but in women the incidences increase after menopause, most likely as a result of hormonal changes.

Obviously sleep apnea disrupts your sleep, however undiagnosed sleep apnea has been linked to high blood pressure, stroke, memory problems and diabetes.

Watch for these signs that you may have sleep apnea:

• Loud or chronic snoring - Snoring is a milder form of airway obstruction. If you’re snoring loudly, chronically and keeping your partner awake, it could be a sign of sleep apnea and you should talk to a sleep apnea dentist.
• You gasp for air – Sleep apnea suffers commonly pause in breathing. Those pauses are often followed by gasping, choking or snorting. In severe cases, you may experience frenzied gasps for air every 15 to 30 seconds throughout the night.
• Exhausted all day – Poor sleeping at night leads to sleepiness during the day. But this is one of the most often overlooked signs of sleep apnea. If you’re spending seven to nine hours in bed per night and still feel sleepy during the day, it could be a sign of sleep apnea.
• High blood pressure - Sleep apnea is linked to hypertension. When you stop or pause in breathing, this causes your blood pressure to spike.
• Use the restroom often at night – This could be linked to aging, but it is also a classic sign of sleep apnea. The stress on your body caused by not breathing triggers a full-bladder sensation.
• Wake up with a headache - Frequent pauses in breathing during the night decrease the oxygen levels in the brain, causing pain.

If you suffer from all or some of these signs, the best thing to do is to contact Dream Smile Dental, a sleep apnea dentist, and schedule a consultation. We will do some diagnostic tests in the office and then most likely send you home with a sleep monitor. This will give us the necessary information to determine the level of sleep apnea you suffer from and be able to recommend the ideal treatment option for you.

Play Am I Wearing Invisalign with the DSD Girls on our Facebook Page for a chance to Win a FREE Just Released Sonicare Diamond Electric Toothbrush!

Answer "YES" or "No" on each photo. Anyone who guesses all 5 correctly enters a drawing to win a FREE Just Released Sonicare Diamond Electric Toothbrush.

 

When it's time for New Year’s resolutions, many people resolve to be healthy. Well what about committing to your dental health? Dental health is directly related to your physical health and well being. Oral Health (teeth, gums and mouth) has a Direct Relationship to Your Overall Health

Taking care of your teeth and gums, allows your body to keep the naturally occurring bacteria in your mouth under control. However, oral infections like tooth decay and gum disease can be caused by harmful bacteria in your mouth when your dental health is neglected. This bacteria can enter your bloodstream.

Gum Disease or Periodontal Disease does not just affect your teeth. A correlation has been shown between oral diseases and conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and pre-term labor. There is no cure for periodontal disease, but Dream Smile Dental can help you maintain your current condition and provide therapy to help it from getting worse.

Resolve to maintain your dental health, contact Dream Smile Dental to jump start your health in the New Year.

Proper flossing technique is a must for good oral health as it removes plaque and food particles in places where a toothbrush cannot easily reach — under the gum line and between your teeth. Because plaque build-up can lead to tooth decay and gum disease, flossing properly each day is highly recommended.

To receive maximum benefits from flossing, use the following proper technique:

• Starting with about 18 inches of floss, wind most of the floss around each middle finger, leaving an inch or two of floss to work with
• Holding the floss tautly between your thumbs and index fingers, slide it gently up-and-down between your teeth
• Gently curve the floss around the base of each tooth, making sure you go beneath the gum line. Never snap or force the floss, as this may cut or bruise delicate gum tissue
• Use clean sections of floss as you move from tooth to tooth
• To remove the floss, use the same back-and-forth motion to bring the floss up and away from the teeth

 The are two types of floss and both are ADA approved care products:

 Nylon (or multi-filament) floss
 PTFE (mono-filament) floss

Nylon floss is available waxed and unwaxed, and in a variety of flavors. Because this type of floss is composed of many strands of nylon, it may sometimes tear or shred, especially between teeth with tight contact points. While more expensive, single filament (PTFE) floss slides easily between teeth, even those with tight spaces between teeth, and is virtually shred-resistant. When used properly, both types of floss are excellent at removing plaque and debris from your teeth.

It is imperative to learn to floss correctly at a very young age.  Our Dentists are skilled at communicating and teaching your children solid dental hygiene techniques.  Take advantage of our special offer for new pediatric patients that includes exams, x-rays, cleaning, and of course floss education all for $99, a $325 dollar value. Our offer is good through October!