Clear And Present Danger

“A Problem Even More Dangerous Than Texting While Driving” It’s hard to open a newspaper these days without finding a story about texting while driving — and that’s not surprising, considering how dangerous it can be. What is surprising is that another major driving hazard, called obstructive sleep apnea, doesn’t get the same kind of attention. Nighttime Snoring, Daytime Exhaustion People with obstructive sleep apnea literally stop breathing for as long as 30 seconds at a time while they sleep. Then, when their bodies realize they are starved of oxygen, they wake up gasping. And this doesn’t happen once or twice. It can happen as often as 400 times a night. Surprisingly, most people don’t actually wake up each time it happens. In fact, if there’s no one around to hear them snoring and gasping, they may have no idea they have a problem. But they don’t sleep normally — and as a result they end up exhausted the next day. Danger on the Road... That puts them at serious risk of falling asleep while driving, particularly when they’re on monotonous roads like the interstates. In fact, the American Thoracic Society estimates that up to 20% of crashes on these roads are caused by sleepiness.1 And it’s a bigger problem than you might think. The American Sleep Apnea Association estimates that 22 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea — but as many as 80% of them are unaware they have this dangerous condition. ... And Off As serious as the problem of driving while exhausted is, it’s only one of the dangers facing people with untreated sleep apnea. • The fact that sleep apnea causes sudden drops in blood oxygen increases the risk of high blood pressure. (The more severe the sleep apnea, the greater the risk.) • Stroke risk increases as well and, if you have underlying heart disease, sleep apnea can even lead to sudden death. • Obstructive sleep apnea can also cause congestive heart failure, atrial fibrillation and other vascular problems. • In addition, it can increase complications of surgery and some medications, and lead to memory problems, headaches, mood swings and depression. What’s more, while it has long been recognized that being overweight or obese increases the risk of obstructive sleep apnea, sleep experts have recently become aware that this is actually a two way street. Current thinking is that too little restful sleep may be as much of a contributor to obesity as too much food and too little exercise. Relief — at Least for Some In sleep apnea, throat muscles that keep your airway open when you’re awake relax too much when you sleep, causing your airway to become partially or fully blocked. It’s this blocking that causes the loud snoring and gasping other people may have told you about, as well as the dangerous drop in blood oxygen levels. Treatment is aimed at keeping your airway open, most commonly by using a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine. These machines have a mask that fits over your nose and mouth and forces air into your throat to help keep it open. When CPAP therapy works, it can make a life-changing difference. But, unfortunately, for many people, it can have some uncomfortable side effects, including claustrophobia, dry mouth, runny nose, even stomach bloating. With the result that many people simply can’t tolerate their machines. A More Comfortable Alternative Fortunately, my staff and I can offer you an effective alternative that’s both easier to use and more comfortable. Called a mandibular advancement device, this FDA-approved appliance gently repositions your lower jaw to help keep your throat open so you can breathe comfortably. Similar in shape to a retainer, they work without tubes, masks or noise, so most people find them easy to tolerate. And they love how much better they feel after finally getting a good night’s sleep. Bottom line: if the people you live with are complaining about your snoring — or you find yourself exhausted day after day — it’s time to visit your doctor and find out if sleep apnea could be the problem. Then, if it is, give us a call and let us help you start breathing better, feeling better and enjoying life again.

What Is Teeth Grinding(Bruxism)?

Bruxism is due to clenching of the teeth other than in chewing and is associated with forceful lateral or protrusive jaw movements. This results in grinding or rubbing the teeth together. The word bruxism comes from the Greek brychein meaning to grind or gnash the opposing rows of upper and lower molar teeth. People can clench and grind without being aware of it during both the day and night, although sleep-related bruxism is often the bigger problem because it is harder to control. It is sometimes done to such an excess that it damages the occlusal surfaces of the teeth, particularly the molar teeth, and may contribute to the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) syndrome. Bruxism is one of the most common sleep disorders. Eventually, bruxism shortens and blunts the teeth being ground and may lead to myofascial muscle pain, temporomandibular joint dysfunction and headaches. In severe, chronic cases, it can lead to arthritis of the temporomandibular joints. The jaw clenching that often accompanies bruxism can also be an unconscious neuromuscular daytime activity, which should be treated as well, usually through physical therapy including recognition and stress response reduction. Some estimates suggest that 15 to 33% of children grind their teeth. This usually happens after they develop their first teeth and again after they develop their permanent teeth. The habit usually stops when their adult teeth are fully formed. What are the symptoms of Bruxism? A symptom is something the patient senses and describes, while a sign is something other people, such as the doctor notice. For example, drowsiness may be a symptom while dilated pupils may be a sign. Clenching the teeth puts pressure on the muscles, tissues, and other structures around your jaw. Grinding can wear down the teeth. Grinding can also be noisy enough at night to bother sleeping partners. Other key symptoms include anxiety, depression, eating disorders, headache, sensitivity in the teeth and insomnia. Earache due in part because the structures of the temporomandibular joint are very close to the ear canal, and because one can feel pain in a different location than its source is also common. This is called referred pain. What are the causes of Bruxism The cause of bruxism is not completely agreed upon, but daily stress may be the trigger in many people. It has been estimated that nearly 70% of bruxism occurs as a result of stress or anxiety that is affecting people subconsciously during sleep. Some people actually clench their teeth and never feel symptoms. Each person is different. Whether or not bruxism causes pain and other problems may be a complicated mix of factors including posture, ability to relax, diet and sleeping habits. Bruxism can also be related to an abnormal bite. This is when there is a problem with your top and bottom teeth coming together which is called an occlusal discrepancy. Having teeth that are missing or crooked can also prompt you to grind your teeth. Bruxism can occur as a side effect of taking certain medications. These include some psychotropic drugs as antidepressants and antipsychotics. Diagnosing Bruxism Bruxism can sometimes be difficult to diagnose by visual evidence alone, as it is not the only cause of tooth wear. Over-vigorous brushing, abrasives in toothpaste, acidic soft drinks and abrasive foods can also be contributing factors, although each causes characteristic wear patterns that a trained professional can identify. The most reliable way to diagnose bruxism is through EMG (electromyographic) measurements. These measurements pick up electrical signals from the chewing muscles (masseter and temporalis). What are the treatment options for Bruxism? The cause of the condition is something you should consider before deciding how to treat bruxism. Stress is one of the main causes of bruxism. In this case, the problem is not the condition itself; the problem is the stress, and it should be treated as such. To treat bruxism caused by stress, one should start a case-specific stress management program and then re-assess the situation. This could involve something as simple as getting enough sleep at night or making sure one is getting regular exercise. If the condition is brought on by something other than stress, like a misalignment of the jaw or teeth, one should consider a dental solution to treat bruxism. A dentist can fit a mouth guard to wear at night. One should avoid using generic sports mouth guards as they tend to come out of place and cause more discomfort than they solve. Most users will find that mouth guards improve their situations, but they are not without drawbacks. Over time, a mouth guard can become worn down and lose its effectiveness. Further, when sufferers have tried to stop using the mouth guard, they have generally found that the pain and symptoms return, making it more of a patch up remedy than a permanent solution. There are many different types of splints. Some fit over the top teeth, some on the bottom. They may be designed to keep your jaw in a more relaxed position or provide some other function. If one type doesn't work, another may. When bruxism is caused by a misaligned jaw or by crooked and uneven teeth, a dentist or orthodontist may be able to realign the jaw or fit a person for braces to treat the condition. Avoiding foods and drinks that contain high concentrations of caffeine or alcohol is rocommended as these can enhance grinding. Also, one should avoid any unnecessary chewing. Stay away from things like chewing gum as it embeds clenching and grinding into your muscle memory. To treat bruxism, try to relax jaw muscles with a warm washcloth or a heating pad at least once a day to ease their tension. Preventing Bruxism Basically, stress reduction and anxiety management may reduce bruxism in people prone to the condition.

Brewster MA Dentist Has Another Happy Dental Implant Patient

Summer Time Prevention

Bursting the Bubble The popularity of soft drinks during the summer increases year after year, due in part to their sweet taste, and in part to the aggressive advertising campaigns run by soda companies. The amount of soda consumed by the average American every year is staggering – over 50 gallons per person. Soft drinks are a danger to oral health due to the high amounts of sugar and acids. Because of their liquid nature, gulping down soft drinks is equivalent to bathing teeth in a solution of acids and sugar. Over time, even the relatively mild acids in soft drinks can eat away and weaken tooth enamel, making teeth more susceptible to decay and damage. Another indirect effect of soda consumption is the reduced consumption of other, healthier drinks. The reduced consumption of milk has led to a deficiency in the intake of important vitamins and minerals. Calcium, in particular, is important to the maintenance of strong teeth and bones. Without a sufficient supply of calcium, the body cannot properly maintain the integrity of teeth – combined with the damaging effects of the sugar and acid in popular soft drinks, and it is easy to see why dentists are concerned. Lowering or eliminating soft drink consumption entirely is not a very likely solution. Sodas are so prevalent in the American diet that elimination is simply unrealistic. Therefore, if you are concerned about the effect of soft drinks on your oral health, consider the following steps. First, take a good look at your brushing and flossing habits. These are vital if you are to counteract the negative effects of soft drinks. Second, try to reduce your soft drink consumption as much as possible, and replace it with beneficial liquids such as milk or fluoridated water. Third, if you must drink sodas, use a straw when possible, to minimize contact with your teeth. A timely visit to the dentist is always a key factor in maintaining good oral and dental health.