Many patients of all ages report that they have issues with their nightly rest. The unfortunate thing about being unconscious, however, is that it may be hard to put a finger on the issue. You may notice the secondary symptoms but be completely unaware that you are doing damage in your sleep.
Our jaws create problems in our mouth through unconscious movements. You might notice yourself chewing or grinding during the day and catch yourself. But when you’re resting, you don’t have the mental fortitude to stop yourself. This can lead to obstructive sleep apnea, where you pause breath momentarily throughout the night. You may also have issues with grinding or clenching your teeth, with a condition known as bruxism.
Today, your Livonia, MI dentist goes over just some of the ways that a custom nightly mouthguard may help you get the sleep you need. And protect your smile and your health while avoiding surgery!
Protect Your Breath
Snoring is a very common concern, and for the vast majority of people, it poses no long-term threat to your health and security. But for some, this can become a serious medical concern. Most people don’t even notice their sleep issues of this type. Their partners and loved ones are the most often ones to bring up this topic.
And if your family tells you that your snoring has become concerning, you should listen to them. When you stop breathing while sleeping, even for just a few seconds, it can be seriously harmful to your health. Apnea patients are more likely to experience heart attacks and strokes. And if your blood pressure is high, this might be one of the contributing factors.
A nightly worn custom-fitted mouthguard can help you by positioning your jaw a little more forward. While this is not enough to become uncomfortable, it opens the airway to ensure that you are not depriving your brain of oxygen every night. If you are looking for a way to avoid noisy CPAP machines, this can be a much less obtrusive way. This ca also save you from an unnecessary surgery!
Bruxism Can Wreak Havoc
Grinding, clenching, and other forms of unconscious jaw movement is called bruxism. When this occurs overnight, your grinding can cause lasting damage to your smile. You may flatten your molars and shorten your incisors, and this can lead to an unattractive look. This also leaves you vulnerable to the infection of these teeth, which most likely results in a root canal. If we can address this before the damage occurs, it’s more ideal.
The same can be said about alignment concerns, as well. Your jaw can shift the location of your teeth and since this tends to happen in one motion, can lead to a great asymmetry in their face. Speak with a trained professional today about the possibilities!
ABOUT YOUR LIVONIA, MI, DENTIST:
James Stewart, DDS, and our compassionate staff proudly serve patients of all ages from Livonia, MI, as well as Farmington Hills, Farmington, Plymouth, Northville, Novi, Dearborn Heights, Dearborn, Garden City, Westland, Redford, and the surrounding communities. To schedule a consultation, call our office today at (734) 425-4400.