Sleeping Problems And Your Oral Health

If you are finding it difficult to get enough sleep, your teeth and gums could be suffering.

We live in a very busy world. If we are not working, we might be stuck in busy and stressful traffic and when we finally get home, we’re bombarded by not very good news on our social media feeds. Just as we are trying to wind down, an email alert arrives on your phone; your employer needs some reports by 8am so your planned early night has to be abandoned.

The above scenario will vary from person to person, but we suspect that many patients of Foxhall Dental will recognise a pattern that they can identify with too. No wonder then, that getting enough sleep can be a problem for a lot of people. When this happens; in addition to general tiredness and weariness, our health can start to be affected. This includes the health of our teeth and gums and we will take a look at some of the reasons why in this blog.

Weaker immunity

If we don’t get sufficient sleep, our bodies don’t have time to fully recover, and, over time, our immune system is likely to struggle more. This leaves us more prone to illnesses such as colds etc, but also to periodontal diseases that can lead to periodontitis if not treated early on. If you find that you are regularly failing to get enough sleep, make sure to mention this to the dental hygienist who may recommend that you see them more often than the usual six monthly visits.

Reduced saliva

If we don’t get enough sleep, then we tend not to produce so much saliva. Not only does this leave us with an unpleasant sensation, and sometimes taste in our mouth, but also allows bacteria to multiply more rapidly. In addition to this, bacteria doesn’t get washed away regularly as it does when our saliva flow is healthy. As above, this can lead to gum disease which can even result in tooth loss if treatment is not sought. Drinking plain water throughout the day will help to reduce some of these problems, and of course brushing and flossing your teeth is essential too.

Promotes unhealthy habits

We all know that when we have had a bad night’s sleep and feel like we are walking through treacle the next day, that the last thing on our mind is eating healthily. We try to revive ourselves to get through the day, not only by consuming extra coffee, but usually sweet snacks too, such as cakes and biscuits. While this will not be too harmful for the odd night’s lack of sleep, over the longer run it isn’t good news for your teeth. Too much sugar can lead to acidity attacking the tooth enamel, and decay and possibly even root canal infections can occur.

Teeth grinding

There are many potential causes for a lack of sleep, but stress is likely to be one of them. If this is the case with you, then there may be a possibility that you are grinding your teeth while you sleep; a condition known as ‘bruxism’. It can be difficult to know if you are doing this as you are sleeping, but there may be some tell tale signs that you are.

A stiff jaw is one possible symptom but some tooth enamel wear is also likely, especially over a period of time. More aggressive grinding could even lead to broken teeth. Even without this latter and more extensive damage though, worn tooth enamel can lead to a number of issues. One of the first of these that you might notice is that your teeth become more sensitive. This is due to reduced enamel thickness which would otherwise help to prevent hot and cold temperatures reaching the nerves in your teeth so easily. It may also mean that the more porous dentin layer below your enamel might be exposed and this increases the risk of tooth decay and root canal infections. If you notice that your teeth are sensitive, whether you suffer from poor sleep or not, you should see our Ipswich dentist for a check up.

Sleep apnea

Sleep apnea occurs when we temporarily stop breathing at various points when we are asleep. This also often leads to significant snoring and also a drier mouth. It can potentially be dangerous and so should be discussed with your GP. As mentioned earlier, a dry mouth can lead to gum disease so if you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea, please make us aware of this when asked about any changes to your medical history.

As you can see then, regular poor sleep could potentially have a significant impact on your oral health. While you will need to contact your GP to address any sleep related issues, our friendly dentists are here to help you with any dental issues arising from this problem. For dry mouth issues, we may suggest that you see the dental hygienist more regularly to stay on top of any build up of tartar, and where wearing of the enamel has occurred, we can discuss restoration options such as cosmetic bonding and dental veneers.

If you would like further information on today’s blog topic or would like to speak to us about any dental matter, please call our local Ipswich team on 01473 258396.