Xerostomia is simply the fancy medical term for the common problem of dry mouth, often referred to as cotton mouth. It is a symptom that typically indicates a larger problem such as a dental disease. If you are a heavy smoker or frequent user of alcohol, you can worsen your xerostomia. Xerostomia can lead to halitosis, the medical term for constant bad breath. It also makes your mouth more vulnerable to dental cavities, because there is not enough saliva in your mouth to protect your teeth’s hard minerals. Saliva acts to remineralise the enamel of your teeth, and without enough saliva production, harmful bacteria are able to break away at the hard surfaces of your teeth with greater ease. Patients who suffer from xerostomia should consult their dentist straight away because your teeth are more at risk to tooth decay and cavities. If you have xerostomia, you need to be particularly good about practicing good oral hygiene at home and frequently visiting the dentist for check ups and clean ups. Make sure you are using a good fluoride toothpaste and a soft bristled tooth brush. You will want to brush and floss after every meal. The prevention of cavities is very important for people who have xerostomia. Keep yourself hydrated and speak to your local dentist in the London SE1 area for advice and tips on practicing good oral hygiene at home.

If you grind your teeth during your sleep you are doing what is known as bruxism. This nocturnal practice is as common as snoring but can pass unnoticed in many sufferers. It is worth dealing with though as it can have consequences on the oral health of the patient.

Stress can be a major factor in teeth grinding and dentists suggest that imperfect alignment of teeth can also play a part. It needs to be stopped, whatever the cause as it can lead to your teeth cracking or becoming chipped or worn down. If teeth grinding leads to these problems then you may have to have a tooth replaced or a crown fitted. It is best to avoid having these procedures because they can be inconvenient, time consuming and, in severe cases, invasive.

Keep visiting your dentist every six months and report any unexplained pain in your teeth which might be caused by grinding your teeth in your sleep. If your dentist feels that stress might be the cause of your teeth grinding then you may be referred to a mental health specialist.

If your dentist determines that the problem lies with the alignment of your teeth then he or she can easily fit you a mouth guard. These simple devices take the strain of the grinding during the night and stop your teeth from being damaged by the constant process of teeth rubbing against one another.

If you are worried about teeth grinding during your sleep contact your South East London dentist and ask for more advice and an examination. It’s worth doing so that you don’t permanently damage your teeth.

Central apnea sufferers have a tendency to stop breathing for short period while they are sleeping. Needless to say, this can have a big impact on their lives and is often intertwined with other, serious problems. As evidence of central apnea can be found in the mouth, your dentist might be able to help, given that, during your six month check ups, your mouth will be thoroughly examined by them.

It is the failure of the brain to keep sending the signal to breathe which causes central apnea during sleep. Usually central apnea is associated with far more serious conditions which affect the general health of the patient. It is unlikely that central apnea will occur in isolation of conditions like heart disease. The morbidly obese and stroke victims also have a higher propensity of suffering from central apnea.

The effects in the life of a central apnea patient can be huge. The disruption to sleep can lead to chronic fatigue during the day and activities like driving can be rendered more problematic. Hypertension can also result, leading to a greater risk of heart failure and strokes.

Dentists might be able to help because they are often able to diagnose the other type of apnea. Obstructive apnea is not brain related, it is caused by the muscles at the rear of the mouth relaxing during sleep and blocking the airways. If your dentist determines that you have apnea but it is not of the obstructive variety then you will be able to see another medical professional to find out if you have central apnea.

Obstructive apnea can be alleviated by wearing certain oral devices during sleep but if you have central apnea then the underlying condition with which it is associated will need to be addressed. Talk to your South East London dentist for more advice.

Sleep apnea sufferers experience disruption to their breathing when they sleep. The consequences of it can be very serious indeed, ranging from chronic fatigue during the day after an unsatisfactory sleep to a greater risk of heart failure. Your dentist is one of the medical professionals who can help you with diagnosis sleep apnea

The two varieties of sleep apnea are called central apnea and obstructive apnea. Central apnea patients usually have a serious underlying condition like heart disease or morbid obesity. Their brain fails to send the signal to breath during the night. For obstructive apnea patients the problem lies with the muscles at the rear of their mouths which tend to relax during sleep, thus restricting the flow of oxygen to the lungs. Sufferers wake frequently during the night as the brain sends an automatic signal to the body to rouse it if insufficient air is being taken in.

Having such a disrupted sleep pattern can cause greater risk of heart failure and strokes. This is because hypertension is more likely. During your check ups with your dentist, they have access to the parts of the mouth which can cause obstructive apnea and might be able to offer a diagnosis. There are certain oral devices which can be worn to relieve obstructive apnea and you can discuss the options with your London SE1 dentist.

The risk of heart failure from sleep apnea is just another reason to visit your dentist every six months so that the state of your mouth can be monitored. Keep him or her up to date with your health so that a problem like sleep apnea can be dealt with before anything serious should occur.

Xerostomia, also known as dry mouth, is the condition where an underproduction of saliva, the mouth’s natural defence against bacteria, causes an imbalance with unpleasant consequences. Not only is xerostomia an unpleasant feeling but it is also the cause of bad breath and can lead to an increased chance of many other dental and oral conditions.

Saliva not only moistens the mouth but it also neutralises bacteria and washes away food particles stuck in the teeth. There are a number of reasons that can adversely affect the production of saliva such as medication you may be taking for other conditions, radiotherapy and also because of a general dehydration. We have all experienced that feeling of having a really dry mouth when we are thirsty and xerostimia is just a chronic case of that feeling. Not very pleasant, I’m sure you’ll agree.

A lack of saliva also puts you at much greater risk of gum disease. This is particularly dangerous given the recent discovery that gum disease is linked to heart disease and potentially fatal heart attacks. This is because the infection can easily get into the bloodstream and block the arteries.

London SE1 dentists recommend that should be suffering from dry mouth, or suspect that you are, you need to make an appointment to have the condition checked and examined for possible causes. The longer the condition remains untreated, the greater risk it poses for your oral health. Try to improve your oral hygiene to compensate, drink plenty of water and avoid eating foods with a high salt content. But most importantly, never ignore the problem in the top that it might go away.

Sleep Apnoea is a malfunction in our breathing pattern that stops our breathing during sleep, says a South East London dentist. The problem is a recently diagnosed one, and it was only in the mid 1960s that the problem really came to light. Periods of 10 seconds or longer are experienced by the sufferer during sleep, this happens when the throat muscles are in a state of complete relaxation and close the throat completely. The condition has been known about for centuries, but little or no research was carried out until the 1960s. The `Fat Boy` in Charles Dickens stories about Mr Pickwick was a sufferer, a doctor in the 1850s recognised this strange occurrence and named it the Pickwick Syndrome, but never wrote a paper on it. Very little is still known about this syndrome and the causes, and even less is known about the long term effects on the sufferer. Snoring is one sign of the presence of it, as is a constant tiredness due to the sleep deprivation that is a side effect of the constant awakening. Breathing problems which cause a lack of Oxygen to be taken in and a build up on Carbon Dioxide within the body, are two problems that put a strain on the heart and the vital organs that rely of a constant supply in order to function. During medical procedures a patient who is prone to this can cause extra problems, especially as it is usually impossible to awaken as most sufferers do in a normal sleep mode. Another problem with Sleep Apnoea is that it is associated with obesity and that in itself is a huge problem. The main problem is that Sleep Apnoea is a cause of obesity and obesity is a cause of Sleep Apnoea.