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How Sleep Affects Your Oral Health

added on: November 4, 2021
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When your biological and holistic dentist in Wilmington is educating patients like you about what it takes to have optimal oral health, we’ll chat with you about your diet and hygiene habits. We also want to know about what else you’re facing in life. Do you exercise regularly? Are you a smoker? Are you experiencing chronic stress? All of these things will affect your oral health — and believe it or not — you can add sleep or lack thereof to this list. Let’s explore more!

Lack of Sleep and Tooth Decay

A 2017 study out of Korea showed 8300 adults who slept less than five hours each night showed more signs of tooth decay and disease. Their oral health was compared to other adults who averaged a minimum of seven hours every night. Another large study later published in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology found a “novel, direct and independent association between sleep duration and the prevalence of periodontitis.” As your biological and holistic dentists in Wilmington, we educate patients on the prevalence of sleep apnea and sleep-related breathing disorders (SRBDs), where human studies have shown a link between sleep disorders – sleep apnea, for instance, or insomnia – and periodontal problems.

Tips for Improving Your Sleep

At our Wilmington holistic and biological dental office, we want you to live your best, most healthiest life possible in terms of both your oral and overall health. We thought it might be a good time to talk about tips for improving your sleep. Here are some things you can do:

1. Keep it Regular – Try to climb into bed around the same time every night — even on the weekends.
2. No More Technology – Keep your smartphone and tablets out of bed, along with other electronic devices that emit blue light that can excite your senses instead of helping you ease into sleep.
3. Avoid These Things – Try to avoid caffeine after about 7 PM, along with alcoholic drinks that can help you get to sleep but also hinder your ability to get the right amount of rest.
4. Try Some Supplements – Your holistic and biological Wilmington dentists always tell you to consult your primary care doctor before taking any supplements. However, there are some variations available that can promote more restful sleep, including:
– Magnesium
– Calcium
– Glycine
– Melatonin
– Valerian

Do you have questions about your periodontal or dental health? November is the perfect time to call our biological and holistic dental office in Wilmington to schedule your custom consultation. We are always welcoming new patients into our family and we look forward to partnering with you down the path to total body wellness.


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