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Do you snore when you sleep? Wake up in the middle of the night out of breath? Feel tired all the time? If you answered yes to these questions, you may have sleep apnea.

What is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that affects an estimated 18 million adults in the United States. With sleep apnea, your breathing stops while you’re sleeping, then starts up again. The pause in between breaths can be 10 seconds or longer, and it can happen as often as 30 times or more each hour you sleep. Unsurprisingly, this can wreak havoc on getting a good night’s sleep. It’s not uncommon for patients with sleep apnea to wake up many times throughout the night.

There are three types of sleep apnea; the most common type is called obstructive sleep apnea. With obstructive sleep apnea, the tissues of the throat and palate relax while you sleep, which causes the tissues to sag and obstruct the airway. Although the daytime fatigue that comes with sleep apnea can make it difficult to go about your daily tasks, sleep apnea can have more serious consequences. It’s been linked to numerous health conditions, including:

• High blood pressure and heart problems
• Type 2 diabetes
• Metabolic syndrome
• Complications with certain medications or general anesthesia
• Liver issues

In addition, a lack of sleep can affect your overall well-being. You may find you have memory issues, moodiness, and difficulty concentrating. Fortunately, your dentist can help diagnose and treat sleep apnea!

How’s Your Sleep Quality?

This might not be a question you expect to hear from your dentist, but believe it or not, we have ways of spotting patients who might have sleep apnea. One of the first signs is bruxism, more commonly known as teeth grinding. Teeth grinding causes worn surfaces on your teeth, as well as cracks, broken teeth, and inflamed or receding gums. A sudden increase in cavities can also be a sign of teeth grinding because the force of grinding your teeth can cause damage that makes them more vulnerable to cavity-causing bacteria.

TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorders are often closely associated with sleep apnea, although the relationship between the two isn’t completely understood. A study published in the Journal of Dental Research found that people with obstructive sleep apnea are twice as likely to have TMJ disorders than people without sleep apnea. Other signs of sleep apnea are a tongue with “scalloped” edges, a small jaw, redness in the throat, or unusually large throat tissues.

Dentistry to the Rescue!

There are several ways to treat sleep apnea; in the case of obstructive sleep apnea, you may only need to make some lifestyle changes. These include:

• Losing weight and maintaining a healthy weight
• Avoiding alcohol or drugs that relax your central nervous system
• Quitting smoking
• Taking antihistamines or other medications that help with nasal allergies

One of the most common ways to treat sleep apnea is with a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine. CPAP machines provide a gentle flow of air through a small mask that you wear at night, which helps prevent your tissues from obstructing your airway. Although they’re very effective, they can be bulky, and some patients have trouble sleeping with them.

Nightguards or other oral appliances can also be very effective for patients with mild-to-moderate cases of obstructive sleep apnea. They work by moving your jaw and throat into a position that prevents tissue obstruction while you sleep. Although rare, surgery is also an option for severe sleep apnea.

Get the Quality Sleep You Deserve

It might be easy to push aside sleep apnea symptoms as “just a snore” but poor sleep quality can have a serious impact on your well-being and ability to function throughout the day. However, the long-term effects are more concerning. Since sleep apnea affects the oxygenation of your blood and the way your heart and lungs function, it can increase your risk of heart attacks, stroke, and other serious health problems. Sleep is also very important for the body’s immune system and ability to heal!

If you have signs of sleep apnea, don’t ignore them! Schedule an appointment at Enamel Dentistry so we can evaluate your symptoms and create a custom treatment plan.

How many times have you gone to the dentist and lied about how much you floss? It’s OK; you’re not alone! Many patients don’t really enjoy flossing. We have a theory that in part, it’s because flossing doesn’t have any noticeable direct benefit—unlike exercise, eating healthy, or even brushing your teeth. However, there are plenty of benefits to be had from regular flossing; the first is that patients who floss regularly have very few dental issues. Keep reading to find out more about flossing and why it’s so important to your oral health.

The Benefits of Flossing Regularly

• Teeth & Gum Health

Brushing your teeth is great for preventing tooth decay because it scrubs away food, plaque, and bacteria sitting on your teeth’s enamel. However, toothbrushes can only do so much; they can’t reach the tight spaces between your teeth and along the gum line—but floss can! Flossing daily helps your teeth and gums stay healthy and reduces your risk of developing cavities and gum disease.

• Fresher Breath

Brushing your teeth with minty-fresh toothpaste will help your breath—but only for so long if you have food and tarter between your teeth. Food trapped between your teeth can start to decay and cause a foul odor, but tartar is one of the main culprits of halitosis (aka chronic bad breath). Flossing removes food particles and plaque before it can become odor-causing tarter.

• Flossing Can Help Prevent Heart Disease

Studies have shown that patients with gum disease are almost twice as likely to have heart disease as those without gum disease. Why? When you have gingivitis or forms of gum disease, it allows bacteria to enter the bloodstream, where it can make its way to the heart. If you floss regularly, it helps protect your teeth, gums, AND your heart! What’s not to love?

• A Brighter, More Confident Smile

Plaque and tartar have a yellowy appearance, which can affect the overall appearance of your smile. Flossing regularly will help remove plaque, prevent tartar buildup, and remove food trapped between your teeth for a brighter, whiter smile you can flash with confidence.

What Happens if You Don’t Floss?

If you don’t floss, it allows plaque and bacteria to accumulate in your mouth. Bacteria can lead to cavities and tooth decay over time, but gingivitis (gum inflammation) can develop much more quickly.

If gingivitis gets worse, it can develop into periodontal disease, which causes bone loss and eventually tooth loss. Plaque that’s allowed to sit for too long becomes calcified and turns into tartar, which makes it more difficult for you to brush and floss thoroughly; even worse, tartar that sits above the gum line has bacteria in it that can irritate and damage your gums.

The bottom line is no matter how often you brush or how long you brush, there are areas around your teeth and gums that a toothbrush just can’t reach. Flossing helps you reach every nook and cranny, dislodging food, plaque, and bacteria that you wouldn’t be able to remove otherwise.

For the cleanest, healthiest smile, you should aim for flossing at least once a day. If your gums bleed while flossing, don’t worry! This is just a sign that you need to floss more frequently. The more you floss, the less your gums will bleed. We know it doesn’t feel like the most glamorous activity, but trust us—your teeth and gums will thank you!

If you have questions about your oral health or proper flossing technique, contact an Enamel Dentistry near you. Our team is always happy to help you find the best ways to care for your smile!

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Post-Operative Dental Surgery Instructions

1. Things to expect following surgery:
2. >Bleeding: Bleeding or oozing for the first 12-24 hours is common. Mild to moderate bruising/discoloration can also be present.
3. >Swelling: Swelling may begin within the first 24 hours but should reach its maximum by 48-72hours. Swelling should diminish by the 5th day.
4. >Discomfort: Discomfort may begin as early as when the anesthetic wears off. Typically discomfort will increase as swelling increases, with peak levels occurring within the first 48hours and gradually tapering thereafter.
5. Things to do following surgery:
6. >Refrain from: Smoking, vaping, vigorous swishing, and drinking through a straw for a minimum of the first 72 hours. Ideally to prevent infections and delays in the healing process, this should be avoided until the tissue completely heals up or your dentist advises you otherwise. Please also refrain from disturbing any stitches that were placed.
7. >Bleeding:
8. >>Bite on gauze for 30 min - 1 hour with constant, firm pressure over the surgical site. If bleeding continues, replace gauze and continue to apply pressure until bleeding stops.Some oozing and discoloration of saliva is normal, so place an old towel on your pillow before going to sleep the first night. Keep head elevated.
9. >Swelling:
10. >>Apply an ice pack to the outside of the face over the surgical area--20 minutes on, 20minutes off. Repeat for the first 24 hours following surgery as needed.
11. >>After first day use warm, moist heat on face for swelling.
12. >Discomfort:
13. >>Take medications as directed for pain. See provided Pain Management sheet.
14. >Diet:
15. >>Avoid crunchy, crumbly, hot, or spicy foods for at least the first 72 hours following surgery or as directed by your dentist. Soup (room temperature or cold), oatmeal, milkshakes (without seeds), and mashed potatoes are all examples of acceptable soft foods. Do not skip meals as adequate nutrition is important for the healing process.
16. >>Diet can be supplemented with high protein or meal replacement shakes such asEnsure or Boost. Protein is an essential nutrient in the recovery process.
17. >Physical Activity:
18. >>Avoid heavy lifting, sports, or strenuous exercises for the first 5-7 days or as directed by your dentist. Walking is a great way to maintain physical activity while healing.
19. >Hygiene:
20. >>Do not brush teeth in area of surgery for the first 48 hours. Other areas of the mouth may be brushed paying special attention to avoid area of surgery.
21. >>Use warm salt water rinses (¼ teaspoon of salt to 1 cup of water) 3-5 times daily after meals for the first 2 days following surgery (very gentle swishing).
22. >>If periodontal surgery was completed, including crown lengthening, do not brush the site for the first week. Use Peridex mouth rinse twice daily, swishing for 30 seconds and spitting.
23. >Medication:
24. >>Take all medications as instructed. If antibiotics were prescribed, be sure to take ALLas directed.
25. Contact the office at (512) 717-5315 or seek emergency care if:
26. >Bleeding is excessive, swelling continues to enlarge after 72 hours, difficulty swallowing or breathing, temperature rises over 100°F.