Sleep Apnea: A Silent Killer

Why does Starbucks sell 256 thousand gallons of coffee every day? Because the average American generally doesn’t get enough sleep and needs to compensate in order to stay focused throughout the day. Although coffee is a temporary solution, the root of the problem is not really being addressed and we’re missing out on the benefits of a good sleep.

When a person gets the necessary 7 hours of good sleep, there are effects that occur which include enhanced concentration, enhanced mood, reduction of stress effects, optimized immune system and increased pain inhibition. Simply put, good sleep makes us healthier. In fact, it even makes the flu shot work better.

So how do we get this good sleep so we can avoid the ample caffeine intake and the fatigued feeling throughout the day? Well first we have to assess the reason why we’re lacking this sleep. In most cases it’s some form of sleep apnea. This is defined as a disorder in which breathing halts briefly but repeatedly during sleep. Although this sounds like something one would know they experienced, most people don’t even realize they do this.

Snoring is the most common sign that a person suffers from sleep apnea which explains why 23% of sleep partners sleep in separate rooms. But before you send your partner to the couch, consider that they may need to see a dentist that specializes in sleep apnea. Not only because of the daily drowsiness, lack of concentration and lowered immune system, but also because sleep apnea leads to serious health issues. These issues include respiratory disease, stroke and heart attack.

A CPAP (machine that forces oxygen through a face mask during sleep) used to be the only way to treat sleep apnea and it still is for severe cases. For less severe cases, a comfortable mouth guard is available that is worn at night. Referred to as The SomnoDent, this guard fits the teeth in such a way that it actually opens up the airway. This allows for more oxygen to enter the body and minimizes lack of breath events throughout the night.

As a result, you wake up feeling more rejuvenated, experience less stress and build up your immune system to handle sickness. More importantly, this actually prolongs your life. By minimizing your chances of respiratory and cardiovascular disease, you’re more likely to live a longer and healthier life.

Correct Teeth Positioning Leads To A Healthier And Longer Life

Today, our stressful and fast paced lives lead us to search out ways to stay healthy. We try to eat organic to keep our cholesterol low, workout regularly to steady sugar levels and find ways to deal with stress to stabilize blood pressure. We do this to live longer, healthier lives.

What we don’t realize is that a big part of our health has to do with the alignment of our body. In fact, over 75 million Americans have a misaligned body due to an improper bite. This is not just about how “straight” our teeth are but how they come together in harmony with the muscles and joints.

Our organism is made up of bones, muscles and various other structures that are in an inter-relationship. This means that if one part is out of alignment, the rest of the body is thrown out of alignment. So when our jaw is out of alignment causing an improper bite, pain and discomfort start affecting us beyond just the face and neck areas.

This discomfort can prohibit us from following our health regimens and decrease the quality and longevity of a healthy lifestyle.

DSD GOES TO BEACON HILL

Dream Smile Dental’s very own Dr. Abdennour was one of 80 dentists participating in the seventh annual Massachusetts Dental Society Beacon Hill Day at the State House. Legislators and dentists got together on Wednesday May 20th, 2009 to discuss the Mass Dental Society’s legislative agenda including an act requiring all children prior to entering kinder garden to have a dental exam within the past year. Additionally, an act relative to oral injuries was discussed. The bill called for the Department of Public Health to conduct a comprehensive study of oral injuries in school sports. Lieutenant Governor Tim Murray delivered a keynote address encouraging dentists to stay active in this program.

In regards to these issues, Dream Smile Dental recommends that a child sees the dentist long before entering kindergarten. Along with the American Academy of Pediatrics, our pediatric dentist recommends that a child see the dentist 6 months after the first tooth erupts or at one year of age. Additionally, we offer custom mouth guards for kids, which is the best way to protect your smile while playing contact sports.

New Pediatric Dentist At Dream Smile Dental

Dream Smile Dental is proud to welcome their new pediatric dentist. Dr. Aurora Alva graduated from the world renowned Pediatric Dental Program at the Tufts School of Dental Medicine where she held the position as President of Smile, Care and Share; a unique program that combines oral health awareness with literacy.

Meet Dr. Alva >>