Snoring can certainly make it difficult for both you and your partner to get a good night’s sleep, but did you know it can do more than just leave you feeling tired in the morning? Snoring can actually cause damage to your teeth over time. That’s why it’s important that you let us know if you often snore at night. If you do, we will work with you to determine the best way to protect your teeth.

SNORING AND DRY MOUTH

The reason snoring can cause dental problems is because it leads to dry mouth. When you snore, it’s a sign that your airway has become blocked. Usually, this blockage is only partial, but it’s still enough to make it hard for you to breath. To compensate, you unconsciously open your mouth to breath in more air. Unfortunately, doing so can cause the saliva in your mouth to dry up. Without a good amount of saliva in your mouth, there are a number of different oral hygiene issues you may run into.

HOW DRY MOUTH DAMAGES YOUR TEETH AND GUMS

Saliva helps to regulate your mouth’s pH balance. When this balance isn’t maintained, the acids in your mouth can begin to wear away at the enamel on your teeth. That gives bacteria the chance to further damage the teeth, eating away at them and causing cavities. Over time, these cavities will reach the nerves and roots in the center of the tooth, causing pain. Saliva also helps to wash away food debris. If that debris remains, the bacteria will feed on it, allowing them to multiply more quickly. If you suffer from dry mouth, it may take more than just increasing the amount of water you drink to combat it. This is especially true if you snore since you can’t exactly drink water while you sleep. If you know you’ve got a snoring problem, call today and arrange a consultation. We want to help you stop snoring, sleep better, and have healthy teeth.