Sleep apnea negatively impacts oral health by causing dry mouth due to mouth breathing, which increases the risk of tooth decay and gum disease. It can also lead to bruxism (teeth grinding/clenching), causing tooth wear and gum recession. Poor sleep quality and associated depression can also result in poor oral hygiene, further contributing to plaque buildup and decay. You can visist your scarborough dentists to find out if sleep apnea is affecting your teeth and help you avoid these problems.
Key oral health effects of sleep apnea:
Dry mouth: Mouth breathing, a common symptom of sleep apnea, reduces saliva production. Saliva is crucial for washing away food particles, neutralizing acids, and fighting bacteria, so a lack of it can lead to mouth sores, plaque, and inflamed gums.
Tooth Decay: The dryness from mouth breathing makes teeth more vulnerable to decay. Teeth grinding can also damage enamel, making teeth more susceptible to decay.
Gum Disease: Saliva’s protective functions are essential for preventing gum disease. Dry mouth due to sleep apnea increases the risk of advanced gum diseases.
Teeth Grinding: Alot of people with sleep apnea grind or clench their teeth, especially at night. This can cause significant wear on teeth, damage to gums, jaw pain, and headaches.
Other issues: Other effects can include changes in bite and taste abnormalities.
At the Smile Team, we provide our clients with the best treatment options for them so book a consultation with Dr. Abid Hidayat today. We are open Mondays to Saturdays and speak GUJARATI, HINDI, URDU, TAGALOG and ARABIC. You can reach our family dental care office in Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario, by calling 416-546-5599.
Author – Sakina Hidayat