Okemos, Lansing, East Lansing MI
Waking up in the morning with a dry mouth or throat can signify that you sleep with your mouth open. Whether you snore or not, mouth breathing while asleep reduces bacteria-fighting saliva and increases tooth enamel damage. Therefore, our Okemos dentist that treats snoring, Dr. Christine Tenaglia, shares more information about how dry mouth occurs and how you can prevent harmful health conditions through treatment.
Why is saliva important to oral health?
Your saliva neutralizes the acids that bacteria produce and lubricates your mouth and tongue for easier movement when speaking and eating. Our East Lansing dentist explains that without saliva, bacteria can continue to excrete acids that erode tooth enamel and make it challenging to speak. Unfortunately, those over 65 may experience a 40% drop in saliva production, making it frustrating, uncomfortable, and annoying.
What causes dry mouth conditions?
Dry mouth conditions typically stem from one of two conditions: xerostomia or mouth breathing
- Xerostomia – Xerostomia is a medical condition where the patient lacks sufficient saliva. Unfortunately, a lack of saliva can make tasting, chewing, and swallowing food more challenging. Furthermore, speaking with a dry mouth can be difficult as well. In many patient cases, the salivary glands fail to produce enough saliva. However, the cause could be a lack of hydration to produce saliva. On the other hand, dry mouth conditions may be a side effect of radiation therapy, smoking, specific medications, and diseases like Parkinson’s or diabetes.
- Mouth Breathing – Mouth breathing is a behavioral condition where the patient sleeps with their mouth open, causing dryness in the mouth and throat. For example, many patients mouth breathe because of nasal congestion or structural abnormalities. When oxygen fails to flow through your nose efficiently, your body uses another pathway for oxygen: your mouth. In some cases, patients who have a deviated septum, enlarged adenoids or tonsils, or suffer from sleep apnea may mouth breathe regularly. Unfortunately, mouth breathing promotes periodontal disease, which can cause bad breath, poor blood oxygenation, high blood pressure, or heart failure.
What treatments are available for mouth breathing?
The first step in treating mouth breathing is to determine its cause. Many people who snore also mouth breathe while sleeping. Therefore, sleep apnea is often linked to mouth breathing.
If you mouth breathe while sleeping, there’s a good chance that you snore. However, the best way to know if you are at risk of sleep apnea is to schedule an airway screening with Dr. Tenaglia. She can assess your airway and determine if you suffer from airway blockages affecting your breathing. Then, she may refer you to undergo an official sleep study to confirm a sleep apnea diagnosis. From there, Dr. Tenaglia can prescribe an oral appliance that you can wear while sleeping to facilitate airflow and reduce your mouth breathing habit.
Treatment for Snoring in Okemos, Lansing, and East Lansing, MI
Sleep apnea can disrupt your life and ability to complete even the most mundane daily activities. Therefore, our Okemos airway dentist encourages you to schedule a consultation at Tenaglia Smiles to learn more about snoring and available treatments. Please call us at (517) 347-6733 or contact us online to schedule an appointment today.