Having quality sleep that helps your body to rest and recover is something that many people assume they are getting at night but are in fact not. Bruxism (grinding and clenching your teeth) and snoring can adversely affect your body each in their own ways and some people don’t even know they are suffering until they make a change. Often times it is a person close to us who sleeps nearby that notices the symptoms even when you don’t and the effects you may be suffering may be eased by a simple trip to Smile House Dental, your dentist in Sutton to help provide you with appliances to bring better quality to your life.
Snoring
If you live with someone and you are a snorer then you may have been told once or twice that your tractor like sounds kept them up at night and you may be aware that you do in fact snore. But if you live alone you may not be aware that you doing it and perhaps you can’t understand why you feel lethargic during the day.
Snoring and obstructive sleep apnea is caused by a blocked airway which often happens when the jaw slacks and falls back during sleep. This blocking of the airway causes there to be less airflow to the brain at night and even if you are sleeping through your body is struggling to get enough oxygen which leads to difficulties waking up and feelings of lethargy throughout the day. By correcting snoring problems your body will be able to pump enough oxygen through the brain at night to help you wake up feeling refreshed and providing a more sound sleep for those around you.
Treatment - a simple yet effective treatment is available to you at your dentist in Sutton via the means of a custom made mouthpiece that holds the bottom jaw in the correct position during sleep to keep the airways open. This mouthpiece is made from hard-wearing plastic and significantly helps snorers with oxygen intake.
Bruxism
Although many people clench and grind their teeth unconsciously nearly all day, the worst of it can happen at night, and like with snoring, most people aren’t even aware they are doing it until someone pokes them in the ribs to wake them up. But if you’re waking up with a painful jaw and neck or even headaches and stiffness you could be clenching and grinding your teeth at night. Sufferers of this condition may even have tooth pain, flat smooth teeth, a jaw that locks up or clicks when opened too wide and may also have trouble chewing food. Earaches and tension headaches are also common and if you are so tense in your face while sleeping, you may wake up tired in the morning with no explanation as to why.
Treatment - if you are mindful that you may be clenching your jaw during the day then it may suit you to evaluate the stress in your life and even try hypnotherapy or acupuncture to treat the condition. There is little we can do while we are sleeping except for a simple treatment from your dentist in Sutton who can create a special mouthguard specifically designed to help those who clench and grind their teeth.
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