The Impact of Snoring On Your Oral Health

There are many known negative side effects to snoring, from annoying partners (and even neighbors!) to sleep interruption, and high blood pressure. One negative side effect, which is not discussed nearly as much as it should, is the impact that snoring has on one’s oral health. Snoring can be the result of a number of issues, such as obstructed nasal airways, use of alcohol and tobacco, and poor muscle tone in the tongue and throat. One of the most common reasons for snoring is “OSA” or obstructive sleep apnea. According to the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine, nearly 25 million American adults suffer from OSA (obstructive sleep apnea) and a large portion of these individuals are completely unaware of their condition.

The Adverse Effects of Snoring On Your Oral health

The most pressing oral health issue which is associated with snoring is that snoring causes “dry mouth” (xerostomia). Saliva is the critical element to keeping our oral tissues coated and moistened. When an individual suffers from dry mouth, it is an indication that there is a lack of salivary flow which can result in a number of health issues, including:

• Halitosis (bad breath)
• Infections and sores
• Burning mouth syndrome
• Tooth decay
• Gum Disease

The Importance Of Saliva In The Mouth

Saliva sloughs accumulated dead cells off of the tongue, gums, and cheeks and is responsible for keeping our oral cavities clean. When these naturally-occurring cells are not removed as they should be, they decompose in the mouth which results in an unpleasant odour (halitosis). Without saliva in our mouths, harmful bacteria and other various organisms grow at an expedited rate which can result in painful mouth sores and infections. Saliva also neutralizes the acids which are produced by the plaque in our mouths, and it is responsible for washing away food and drink particles which are left in the mouth. Without the cleansing effects of saliva, we can suffer from tooth decay and gum disease.

Improving Your Oral Health With An Anti-Snore Mouthpiece

Apart from having a strict oral hygiene regime, those who snore can largely allay these negative oral health issues by investing in non-invasive and clinically proven snoring solutions like the Good Morning Snore Solution. The developers of this mouthpiece conducted a randomized and controlled crossover study where 32 patients used either the Good Morning Snore Solution or another similarly designed mouthpiece (which lacked the suction mechanism of the Good Morning Snore Solution). The study found that:

• With the Good Morning Snore Solution, the Snoring Index (which measures the average number of snores per hour) was reduced by nearly 40%, achieving a significant improvement in night time snoring.
• The device also reduced the Respiratory Disturbance Index (a measure of the number of sleep disturbances divided by the number of hours sleep) by at least 50%, resulting in a clinically significant reduction in the number of disturbances to less than 10 per hour.
• Four out of five subjects with severe OSA (RDI>30) showed a reduction of at least fifty percent in Respiratory Disturbance Index (RDI)

References: http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/guide/snoring http://www.aadsm.org/sleepapnea.aspx http://aadsm.org/articles.aspx?id=2634 http://www.colgate.com/en/us/oc/oral-health/conditions/respiratory-conditions/article/sw-281474979158441 Copyscape checked & rechecked