Why snoring could be a sign of a greater problem.

Snoring Dental Devices

How Your Dentist Can Help with Snoring: The Dental Surgery Seeing your GP would be the first step to diagnosing sleep apnea, but treatment could be through a dentist.

We would make a specialized mandibular advancement device.

This is a bespoke mouth guard that fits comfortably over your teeth but holds the lower jaw and tongue forward, preventing the temporary collapse of tissue that leads to sudden waking.

Difference between Dental and Off-the-Shelf Snoring Devices

It is worth noting that although these devices can be bought over the counter or online, they will not fit properly, so they will either be ineffective or uncomfortable and are likely to be a waste of money.

A dental practice would take an impression of your mouth to create a custom-fit device.

A dental surgery would also be able to factor in any other complications, such as gum disease or misalignment of teeth, and create a mandibular advancement device that is suitable.

Other reasons to see a dentist when you suffer from snoring include How Your Dentist Can Help with Snoring The Dental Surgery Snoring can also have other knock-on effects. Even if snoring is not a sign of sleep apnea, there are still side effects of snoring that a dentist can help with. Since snoring causes a person to sleep with their mouth open, this can lead to a dry mouth due to the lack of saliva, which in turn leads to bad breath. It has also been linked to other issues, such as burning mouth syndrome and even gum disease. It is only by having regular checkups that early signs of any gum issues can be spotted. This is important in making sure the relatively minor and easily treatable gingivitis does not progress into the far more problematic periodontitis—full-blown gum disease that leads to the loss of bone.

Snoring can also lead to teeth grinding; the National Sleep Foundation claims that nearly one in four people with obstructive sleep apnea grind their teeth at night. This could mean that wearing a specialized mouth guard while sleeping is recommended to avoid tooth damage.

Snoring can also have other knock-on effects. Even if you don’t suffer from sleep apnea, snoring is still likely to lead to a bad night’s sleep, which, in turn, can lead to stress, which is then linked to a whole range of conditions ranging from heart disease to gum disease. Of course, solving snoring does not make someone immune from serious health complaints, but it does remove a potential contributory factor.

Make it part of your standard checkup.

Snoring may indicate something slightly more severe (but treatable) like sleep apnea, or it may simply be an annoyance in and of itself.

Even though you might not need to see your doctor or dentist right away, you should still have it looked out for.

At your subsequent routine checkup, you should definitely bring up snoring so that the dentist can look for any indications that it might be harming your dental health and take appropriate action.

Other Ways to Tackle Snoring

Yes, eating too much candy can cause cavities, but did you know that many other foods actually strengthen kids' teeth? By Gina Roberts-Grey

Foods That Help Oral Health

What Are The Most 10 Foods That Dentists Hate?

Some are sticky or sugary. Others get stuck between teeth or have lower pH levels in the mouth. So if your kid eats them, be sure he brushes well afterward. Gummy candy (even vitamins) Caramel Taffy Carbonated drinks Fruit drinks with high-fructose corn syrup Bubble gum (with sugar) Raisins Potato chips Hard candy Honey All content on this Web site, including medical opinions and any other health-related information, is for informational purposes only and should not be considered a specific diagnosis or treatment plan for any individual situation. The use of this site and the information contained herein does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Always seek the direct advice of your own doctor in connection with any questions or issues you may have regarding your own health or the health of others. Source: 

Content retrieved from: https://www.parents.com/health/dental/smile-savers/.

First, the Most Common Dental Problem in Kids: Tooth Decay

Also referred to as cavities or dental caries, tooth decay occurs when the bacteria in the plaque settles on the tooth. Typically, this type of bacteria forms after kids ate sugars and starches. Children, as well as older people, are more likely to develop tooth decay because their enamel is more vulnerable compared to adults.

How to Treat

The best possible way to deal with plaque is through prevention. There is no real way to reverse them once you acquired cavities. The only option you can have is to fill and repair them. So, it is important to save your teeth while you still can through brushing and flossing regularly. However, once you already developed cavities, they must be treated by a dentist. Do not leave your cavities to deteriorate for it might progress into an abscess or infection. Depending on how damaged your tooth is, your dentist may take the form of a standard filling, putting a crown, or for the last resort, tooth extraction.

Second, the Most Common Dental Problem in Kids: Gum Disease

When tartar and plaque build up at your teeth’s base, your gums will get swollen and red and cause gum disease or gingivitis. If left untreated, it might lead to tooth loss and tooth bone damage.

How to Treat

For mild forms of gum disease, professional cleanings will help. For worse-case conditions, it will require deep scaling and special rinses. Dentists also offer taking up antibiotics or other medications which is why it is important to have your teeth checked by your dentist as soon as suspected you acquired gum disease.

Third, Most Common Dental Problem in Kids: Damaged/Loose Teeth

A mature tooth that is erupting frequently causes a loose tooth.
Do not be alarmed if your children's baby teeth begin to wiggle; this just indicates that the permanent ones are about to take their place.
Eventually, it will separate on its own.
We should intercede to hasten the process if it doesn't seem to be leaving your child's mouth quickly.

How to Treat

The last option for a baby's teeth that have been harmed or damaged should be extraction.
Today's dentists can save broken or injured teeth by using baby root canals or pediatric crowns because of contemporary technology.
Call your dentist as soon as possible if your kid loses a permanent tooth or sustains tooth damage.

Prevention is better than Cure

The importance of prevention is the main theme running through these 3 common dental problems in children. Proper and diligent brushing, regular dental visits, and flossing are the 3 main ingredients for healthy dental hygiene.