Should You Discuss Sleep Deprivation With Your Dentist?

Feeling fatigue on a regular basis? If the problem persists, it can take a toll on your mood, interfere with your focus, and create problems for your physical health. What might surprise you is how your sleep troubles can begin to affect your oral health. This can be a result of fatigue, which makes you less attentive as you clean your smile, or it can be due to problems with an increase in your caffeine intake. Our Ankney, IA dentist’s office can help you fight to keep your smile healthy even as you struggle with restlessness. In addition to offering ongoing care during routine dental exams, we can talk with you about the possibility that sleep apnea has caused your recent troubles with fatigue.

Can Sleep Troubles Really Affect My Oral Health?

Over time, a lack of sleep can make it difficult for you to focus, particularly at the beginning and end of your days. Feeling especially sluggish in the morning can lead to an extra cup of coffee, and it can also make you less focused on thoroughly brushing your teeth. These small changes can raise your risk for tooth decay, and make you more likely to have concerns with dental discoloration. Feeling exhausted at night, or falling asleep early without meaning to, can also affect your oral hygiene routine by keeping you from brushing and flossing before bed.

Make Sure You Are Staying Consistent With Your Oral Care Routine

The consistency of your oral hygiene routine keeps you protected against dental decay, gum disease, and tartar buildup. While it may be tempted to reach for the snooze button if you feel poorly rested in the morning, make sure you have time to thoroughly brush. At night, give yourself at least two minutes to brush, and also make sure you thoroughly floss to clean out the spaces between teeth.

To make sure you remain safe against problems that call for dental fillings or dental crowns, keep in mind that oral care is about more than just cleaning. Stick to a smart, smile-friendly diet in order to lower your cavity risk. Many caffeinated drinks are high in sugar, making them a problem for you if you want to avoid decay!

Issues With Fatigue Can Be Traced To Sleep Apnea

People sometimes feel confused by their issues with fatigue – they believe they rested through the night, but they still feel exhausted upon waking. What may be happening is an issue with sleep apnea is forcing your body out of rest during the night. Treating this problem can lead to a better night’s sleep, and it fan help you avoid problems with your physical health that can occur because of sleep deprivation.

Count On Oral Health Support At Our Ankeny, IA Dentist’s Office

Our Ankeny, IA dentist’s office is prepared to help patients who are struggling with sleep deprivation and poor oral health. To learn more about our services, please contact Dental Impressions at (515) 965-0230.