Taking care of your oral health is already a lifelong commitment, as the various bacteria, germs, infections, diseases, etc. that come into contact with your smile threaten your health’s integrity on a consistent basis. What’s worse is that these are only the tip of the iceberg. While these are threats that we often fend off with regular preventive care, the fact of the matter is that there are other, nontraditional dental concerns out there that can lead to negative impacts on our health as well. In today’s blog, your Houston, TX dentist defines what a sleep issue is, as well as discusses the different types of sleep issues that can harm your smile and your health.
Consequences of Teeth Grinding
One of the biggest threats to your smile’s health is that nontraditional sleep issues can occur without you even knowing there is a problem, initially. You see, a nontraditional oral health concern is just that – something that you might not think about when performing routine cleaning and preventive care, but something that can also have an impact on your health.
A sleep issue, for the sake of this blog, is something that occurs while you are unconscious or slumbering, and can likely influence your health significantly if you do not seek necessary treatment. Sleep issues can take many forms, but one that you might be most familiar with is bruxism.
Bruxism is the name given to chronic teeth grinding, and occurs when a person tightly clenches his or her teeth together and moves their lower jaw from side to side. It can lead to chipping and cracking, as well as a sore or tense jaw. To learn more about this process, give our team a call today.
Treating TMJ Disorder
In addition to bruxism, another major concern that could influence your health includes TMJ disorder. This is an extension of bruxism, in that bruxism precedes TMJ disorder. It occurs when the lower jaw becomes misaligned with one or both of the temporomandibular joints (TMJs) at which it hinges to the cranium.
If left untreated, TMJ disorder can significantly harm your jaw tissues. What’s more? People affected by TMJ Disorder tend to experience a noticeable popping or clicking sensation in the jaw, and oftentimes, this can become painful. Contact our team to learn more.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Finally, one of the biggest sleep issues that you could face includes obstructive sleep apnea. This phenomenon is characterized by periods of lapsed breathing, in which not enough oxygen is able to make its way to the brain. It often results from relaxed throat muscles obstructing the airflow, and requires specialized care to treat.
Schedule Your Next Visit
Contact SleepWell Houston in Houston, TX by calling 713-796-9600 to schedule your next appointment with our team and learn more about the ways sleep issues can be treated.
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