How your mouth AFFECTS YOUR SLEEP
FFrom teethh to tonsils,il parts off your gob could be costing you ZZZs
They seem completely removed from each other, but it turns out your mouth and sleep habits are interrelated. In fact, if your oral hygiene isn’t the best, your sleep can suffer.
Here are the potential problem areas to watch out for and how they can lessen your chances of a good night’s rest…
IMPERFECT TEETH
There are three forms of crooked teeth that can affect your sleep: overbites, underbites and open bites. An overbite occurs when the top teeth cover the bottom row of teeth, an underbite sees the bottom teeth come in front of the top teeth and an open bite occurs when both the upper and lower teeth don’t overlap. So how do they all affect a quality of slumber?
Well, crowded or misshapen teeth can mean your tongue doesn’t have the space it needs inside your mouth, which can obstruct your airways and breathing patterns. As such, you’re more likely to wind up snoring and you could potentially develop sleep apnoea.
Speak to an orthodontist if you’re concerned your teeth could be disrupting your sleep.
THROAT SWELLING
Keep a close eye on your tonsils and adenoids (the glands on the roof of your mouth behind the point at which your nose and throat connect). If these look engorged, you could be looking at a lot less shut-eye.
Because of their location in the back of the throat and nasal cavity, if your tonsils and/or adenoids become swollen, they can potentially block your airway and cause breathing problems. And just like crooked teeth, that can spell bad news for your sleeping habits.
Some signs to look out for to indicate lymphatic tissues might be suffering include white or yellow coating on your tonsils, a slight voice change, a sore throat, uncomfortable or painful swallowing, bad breath, ear aches and tonsils that appear redder than normal. If you notice any of these signs, consult your GP for personalised treatment options.
JAW UNDERDEVELOPMENT
Your facial development is 90 per cent complete by the time you reach the age of 12.
However, there is a possibility your jaw may not grow to its full size, which can have an impact on your breathing, since the dimensions of your airway can be significantly reduced.
Symptoms that indicate you may have an underdeveloped jaw include discomfort when chewing, difficulty breathing, speech impairment, regular biting of the inside of your mouth, headaches or migraines and uneven tooth wear or sensitivity.