What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea is a potentially serious sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep. Several types of sleep apnea exist, but the most common type is obstructive sleep apnea, which occurs when your throat muscles intermittently relax and block your airway during sleep. The most noticeable sign of obstructive sleep apnea is snoring.

Anyone can develop obstructive sleep apnea, although it most commonly affects middle-aged and older adults and people who are overweight. Obstructive sleep apnea treatment may involve using a device to keep your airway open or using a mouthpiece to thrust your jaw forward during sleep. Some undergo a procedure to change the structure of their nose, mouth or throat.

What are the symtoms?

Signs and symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea include:

Excessive daytime sleepiness (hypersomnia)
Loud snoring
Observed episodes of breathing cessation during sleep
Abrupt awakenings accompanied by shortness of breath
Awakening with a dry mouth or sore throat
Morning headache
Difficulty staying asleep (insomnia)
Difficult-to-control high blood pressure

When to see a doctor?

Consult a medical professional if you experience, or if your partner observes, the following:

Snoring loud enough to disturb your sleep or that of others
Shortness of breath that awakens you from sleep
Intermittent pauses in your breathing during sleep
Excessive daytime drowsiness, which may cause you to fall asleep while you're working, watching television or even driving a vehicle
Many people don't think of snoring as a sign of something potentially serious, and not everyone who snores has obstructive sleep apnea. But be sure to talk to your doctor if you experience loud snoring, especially snoring that's punctuated by periods of silence. With obstructive sleep apnea, snoring typically is loudest when you sleep on your back, and it quiets when you turn on your side.

Ask your doctor about any sleep problem that leaves you chronically fatigued, sleepy and irritable. Excessive daytime drowsiness (hypersomnia) may be due to other disorders, such as narcolepsy.

What Causes Tooth Sensitivity?

What is it?

Tooth sensitivity is something that affects a number of people. It is often caused by eating or drinking something hot, cold, sweet or acidic. Under normal conditions, the underlying dentin of the tooth (the layer that immediately surrounds the nerve) is covered by the enamel in the tooth crown, and the gums that surround the tooth. Over time, the enamel covering can get thinner, thus providing less protection. The gums can also recede over time, exposing the underlying root surface dentin.

The dentin contains a large numbers of pores or tubes that run from the outside of the tooth to the nerve in the center. When the dentin is exposed, these tubes can be stimulated by changes in temperature or certain foods.

What causes it?

Exposure of the dentin can occur due to a number of factors. Some of the more common reasons are:

Gum recession due to age or improper tooth brushing. Acidic beverages (such as soda) that cause enamel erosion and dentin exposure.
Tooth grinding. This may actually cause most or all of the teeth to feel sensitive.
Brushing with a very abrasive toothpaste, brushing incorrectly and/or brushing more than three times a day could result in a loss of enamel.
Gum disease, which can result in gum recession
A chipped or fractured tooth may expose the dentin
In addition, some dental treatments can cause sensitivity. Treatments such as such as teeth whitening, professional dental cleanings, having braces put on or getting a filling placed have been known to cause sensitivity during or after the procedure.

What can I do about it?

The first step in doing something about dental sensitivity is to find out what the cause is – a dental professional can help you with this. If the sensitivity is due to exposed dentin, there are a number of steps you can take, as can your dental professional, to help reduce the sensitivity. These can include:

Using a very soft bristle tooth brush
Brushing correctly to help prevent abrasion of the enamel and recession of the gums
Using a toothpaste specially formulated to help reduce sensitivity.
Your dentist can apply a fluoride varnish on the sensitive areas to help strengthen the tooth. He or she can prescribe a high fluoride tooth paste or gel to use every day. The fluoride can help to plug in the pores in your dentin thus making your teeth less sensitive. Or your dentist can place a dental filling to build up the areas that have lost enamel.
In the end, whether you need an in-office procedure or over-the-counter products, the most important step is to see a dental professional so that he or she can determine the cause of the tooth sensitivity and help you find a solution that will work. If you have further questions about tooth sensitivity, please feel free to call our office, OrthoWorks, at 1 888 BRACES-2 and we would be glad to answer your questions for you.


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