ARE YOUR TEETH HIDING IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR SLEEP PATTERNS?

Dental sleep medicine is a section of dentistry that studies the connection between oral applications and sleep disorders. This practice has been around for over 40 years, but not all dentists bring attention to it. Dentists are finding that symptoms of abnormal sleep patterns can be seen in your oral health.

CHECK OUT YOUR TEETH IN THE MIRROR NEXT TIME YOU ARE BRUSHING YOUR TEETH FOR THESE FOUR SIGNS OF ABNORMAL SLEEP PATTERNS:

  1. Flat-Bottomed Teeth
    If your teeth are flat on the bottom, then it’s a sign that you grind your teeth and clench your jaw. If you do this, then you shred your enamel away and that’s something you can’t get back. Grinding teeth at night is a way for your body to reopen your airways, which means there are sleep breathing interruptions at night.
  2. Gapped Teeth
    If you have gaps in your teeth, then it could mean that you have reverse swallows or tongue thrusts. Tongue thrusts push your teeth forward and out which can affect your sleep breathing.
  3. Crowded Teeth
    You may think that crowded teeth are genetic but in most cases, crowded teeth are an indication that the jaw didn’t grow correctly. If you have crowded teeth, you’re more likely to have a small airway which causes interruptions in your sleep breathing.
  4. Breathing Through Teeth
    If you feel yourself constantly having to breathe through your mouth rather than your nose, then you probably have allergies, congestion, or a deviated septum (unaligned cartilage in your nose). These signs can cause sleep apnea, a sleep breathing disorder.

IF ANY OF THESE CLUES MATCH YOU, CHECK IN WITH A SLEEP SPECIALIST TO SEE IF YOUR SLEEP BREATHING PATTERNS ARE SUSPICIOUS SO YOU CAN SLEEP SOUNDLY WITH A SMILE.

grinding teeth during sleep

 

About Dr. Dean Salo

Dr. Dean Salo has many years of experience in dentistry, starting with cosmetic restorations. He leads a quality team of dental practitioners and continues to provide excellent service to some famous Los Angeles faces. Dr. Dean Salo has a passion for dentistry and it shows in his high-quality personal care. To learn more about Dr. Dean Salo, visit his website www.deansalo.com or visit his office at 6222 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 102 Los Angeles, CA 90048 (323.933.2400).