Snoring treatment- Dental Alternative to CPAP
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine has designated dental sleep oral appliances as the No. 1 non-surgical alternative for the CPAP intolerant. Although the most successful treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure), there are numerous difficulties patients are having when trying to use it.
People with sleep apnea literally stop breathing repeatedly during their sleep, often for a minute or longer. Perhaps you or your partner suddenly wakes with a startle during the night? Likely this is the body’s reaction to lack of oxygen.
If not treated, OSA can take eight to 10 years off someone’s life. OSA can cause driving and work-related accidents, depression, memory loss, impaired concentration, high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke. More studies are now showing a correlation between sleep apnea and attention deficit disorder (ADD).
Sleep Apnea is more common than you would think. Here are some statistics:
- 100 million Americans snore.
- 60% of all Americans over age 40 snore.
- 27% of all married couples snore.
- 50% to 75% of those who try the CPAP reject it.
Oral dental appliances are used to reposition the tongue and lower jaw forward during sleep to maintain the open airway and prevent soft tissues from collapsing during sleep. Usually, oral appliances are recommended for mild to moderate OSA patients, but can be used in severe OSA patients who cannot tolerate CPAP. Some recent studies show Continue reading “Snoring treatment- Dental Alternative to CPAP” »
Is Fluoride still important for adult oral health?
FLUORIDE: Fluoridated community drinking water and fluoride toothpaste are the most common sources of fluoride in the United States and are largely responsible for the low risk for dental caries (cavities) for most persons in this country. Persons at high risk for dental caries might require more frequent or more concentrated exposure to fluoride using a prescribed mouth rinse, topical gel or varnish that leaves a temporary layer of material on the enamel surface. The fluoride in this material is released when the pH drops in the mouth in response to acid production and works to remineralize tooth enamel.
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What exactly does “sugarless” or “sugar free” mean?
SUGARLESS OR SUGAR-FREE FOOD sometimes simply means that no sugar was added to the foods during processing. However, this does not mean that the foods do not contain other natural sweeteners, such as honey, molasses, evaporated cane sugar, fructose, barley malt, or rice syrup. These natural sweeteners contain the same number of calories as sugar and can be just as harmful to teeth.
To determine if the sugarless or sugar-free foods you buy contain natural sweeteners, examine the ingredients label. Words that end in ‘-ose’ (like sucrose and fructose) usually indicate the presence of a natural sweetener. On the label, look under sugars or carbohydrates.
