{"id":346,"date":"2024-06-13T21:18:04","date_gmt":"2024-06-13T21:18:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bradweissdds.com\/blog\/?p=346"},"modified":"2024-06-27T21:21:20","modified_gmt":"2024-06-27T21:21:20","slug":"sleep-apnea-gum-disease","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bradweissdds.com\/blog\/sleep-apnea-gum-disease\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Sleep Apnea Bad for My Oral Health?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"Lady<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Sleep apnea is a condition involving a patient\u2019s airway becoming restricted as their tissues relax during sleep, causing breathing interruptions that awaken them many times in a single night. While this has been linked to issues such as fatigue, obesity, and a range of other health problems, it can also make a person more likely to develop gum disease. Here\u2019s a brief guide to why this can happen and how people with sleep apnea can help reduce these symptoms<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

How Can Sleep Apnea Cause Gum Disease?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

People with sleep apnea often breathe more through their mouths than their noses, which can decrease the amount of saliva in the mouth through evaporation. Saliva flow is a crucial part of your mouth\u2019s natural cleaning process because it helps flush bacteria and food debris away while keeping the teeth lubricated and mineralized. When the mouth no longer has enough saliva, harmful bacteria will feed on the lingering food residue and multiply rapidly, which can lead to oral infections such as gum disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Can I Prevent or Treat Gum Disease if I Have Sleep Apnea?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The first step to preventing gum disease is practicing excellent oral hygiene at home by brushing, flossing, and using antibacterial mouthwash every day while seeing your dentist regularly. If you have sleep apnea, you should tell your dentist so they can consider this important information when they develop your treatment plan. Your dentist may employ one or both of the following methods to treat or prevent gum disease if you have sleep apnea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oral appliance therapy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While many patients use CPAP machines to keep their airways open while they sleep, some may benefit from an oral appliance that fits inside the mouth like an orthodontic retainer. While one of these devices may be able to correct or reduce your symptoms of sleep apnea, it may also help protect you from bruxism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gum disease treatment<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you have developed inflammation or advanced infections of the gums, a dentist will be able to recommend oral hygiene methods and apply periodontal treatments such as scaling and root planing to resolve the issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gum disease is a sinister menace that can lead to tooth loss, gum and bone erosion, and even serious secondary infections like sepsis. With the proper precautions, you can prevent periodontal infections while addressing your sleep apnea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About the Author<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Brad Weiss earned his dental degree at Indiana University\u2019s School of Dentistry in Indianapolis, where he was awarded the Dentsply Internation Merit Award for Prosthodontics. He is proud to be a Fellow of the American College of Dentists and has been co-facilitating a dental study group. His office in Skokie, IL, offers general, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry. To learn more about preventing gum disease when you have sleep apnea, contact his office online<\/a> or dial (847) 864-0188<\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Sleep apnea is a condition involving a patient\u2019s airway becoming restricted as their tissues relax during sleep, causing breathing interruptions that awaken them many times in a single night. While this has been linked to issues such as fatigue, obesity, and a range of other health problems, it can also make a person more likely […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-346","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nCan Sleep Apnea Cause Gum Disease? | Dr. Brad Weiss<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Sleep apnea patients often sleep with their mouths open. 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