While snoring maybe something we laugh about in the movies or on TV, in real life it can literally be life threatening. For some people, snoring can develop into Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), a condition in which moments are experienced during sleep when breathing completely stops. When you consider that this may happen more than 50 times an hour during sleep, you can clearly see how destructive this can be to overall health. In fact, the risks of undiagnosed OSA include heart attacks, strokes, impotence, irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, and heart disease. On a positive note, there are treatment options that can help. In addition to exercising and losing weight if you are over the normal range, there is more that can be done quite simply.

Did you know that a dentist trained in sleep disorders can play a key role in your treatment? One way is by making an oral appliance, a custom device that is similar to a retainer or sports mouthpiece, that is worn during sleep. To learn more about sleep apnea and your treatment options, discuss them with your dentist during your next routine exam.

• Are you a loud, habitual snorer?
• Has your sleeping partner ever witnessed you choking, gasping, or holding your breath during sleep?
• Do you regularly feel un-refreshed, even after waking from 8 or more hours of sleep?
• Do you find yourself falling asleep easily throughout your day at home or at work?
• Do you often suffer from poor concentration or judgment, memory loss, irritability, and/or depression?
• Are you 15 pounds over the normal weight range for your height and/or does your neck measure more than 17 inches if you are male or 16 inches if you are female?

If the answer to these questions is yes, you may have Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). The risks of undiagnosed OSA include heart attacks, strokes, impotence, irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, and heart disease. In addition, it can cause daytime sleepiness that results in accidents, lost productivity, depression, and problems in your relationships with others.

Although simple treatment options are available, a proper diagnosis is the first step. While your responses to the above questions do not provide a diagnosis, they will serve as important signs and symptoms your dentist and physician may use to make a diagnosis.

The simple action of discussing these factors with your dentist or physician could save your life!

If you suffer from chronic bad breath and have always wondered if there is a cure, then you are not alone. Bad breath affects 50% of the U.S. population in the middle aged and older category—not to mention the stench of smokers' breath in the 20-25% of the U.S. population who smoke. These are just a few of the reasons the fresh-breath industry (gum, mints, mouthrinses) is a 3 BILLION dollar industry. Generally speaking, yes, you can cure or at least control bad breath; however, you must first work with your dental professional to determine what is causing your halitosis (bad breath).

When all the tissue inside your tooth (pulp chamber) dies, including the nerve, the pain may be acute, even excruciating! Many times the pain goes away temporarily, but the infection does not. And when this occurs, you will need a root canal to treat the infection so that your tooth can be saved. But now you may wonder, “what got me into this situation?”

When decay reaches the pulp chamber, it frequently causes infection. The pulp (nerve) inside the chamber can die from a traumatic blow, recurrent decay, or anytime you have a large filling that breaks down around the edges or margins. Learn more in the endodontics consultation article Signs and Symptoms of a Future Root Canal.

As any dentist or medical professional will tell you, Benjamin Franklin gave great advice that is still true today when he said, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” The first tell tale sign of periodontal disease is bleeding gums when brushing your teeth or flossing. Unfortunately, most people ignore this sign because they think that they're brushing or flossing too hard. Bleeding gums reveal you have gum disease as healthy gum tissue doesn't normally bleed. And it only takes gentle brushing and flossing the right way to remove dental bacterial plaque, not hard scrubbing. If left untreated, your condition may develop into periodontal disease: disruption and loss of attachment of the gums and bone support which “unzip” from the teeth creating pockets of infection.

Learn more when you continue reading Warning Signs of Periodontal (Gum) Disease.

Dentists are frequently asked questions about chipping a tooth—“Is it that big a deal? Doesn't it depend on how big the chip is? I mean if it is just a little chip, it can't be that bad...can it?” The answers to these questions are variations of the same theme. Yes, chipping a tooth means you have lost valuable tooth structure and potentially laid the foundation for additional chips and cracks. Or you may need a root canal if the chip is close to the pulp containing the nerve and it doesn't heal properly from the trauma.

As for repairing a chipped tooth, your dentist can usually fix minor chips with modern bonding techniques using tooth-colored filling materials. For larger chips that involve more tooth structure, your dentist may suggest a crown (cap) or a veneer. The most important thing to remember is that if you chip a tooth, you need to see a dental professional for a proper evaluation and treatment remedy

Learn more about Repairing Chipped Teeth

Xerostomia (“xero” = dry, “stomia” = mouth) is a common condition that affects millions of people each year. And even though so many people deal with this issue, many don't understand why or what to do about it. Causes can range from the usual morning dry mouth to the effects of smoking, alcohol, and coffee consumption. Medications, salivary gland diseases, or diseases in general can also cause it. If you routinely experience dry mouth, discuss your concerns with your dentist during a routine exam or cleaning. Help can range from simply improving your oral hygiene to increasing the amount of water you drink daily (if dehydrated). Taking local agents or prescription medications can also be used for reducing dry mouth.

Though often confused with cold sores or fever blisters that are contagious, canker sores are not and are a problem that nearly everyone will deal with at some point in life. Here's the difference between these medical conditions. Cold sores and fever blisters are caused by the herpes virus (HSV1) and usually occur on or around the lips, but can also occur inside the mouth on the gums, tongue, and palate especially in acute cases. On the other hand, canker sores are small painful red-bordered ulcers with a white or yellowish base. They generally occur inside the mouth on more moveable tissue (under the tongue, cheeks, and inside the lips).

Periodontal (gum) infections can be quite painful, but more importantly, they can be signs of larger problems to come. If you are experiencing recurring swellings on your gums, then you have the hallmark signs of an acute periodontal (gum) abscess and need to make an immediate appointment with your dentist. An abscess is literally an infected pus-filled sac that your dentist can easily drain to release infection. With a little local anesthesia to numb the area and a small pierce to let the infection out, your pain is literally gone in a few seconds. You may also be given a round of antibiotics and a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication to ensure disinfection and healing.

Learn more about this condition in Periodontal (Gum) Abscesses.

Are you experiencing persistent pain in your jaw after a fall that won't go away or is getting worse? The first and most important tip is to see your dentist or oral surgeon now! There are many reasons for jaw pain; however, you need a professional to understand what happened and evaluate your pain. By having a thorough exam, a dental professional can establish a proper diagnosis and treatment plan. You might have displaced a tooth, traumatized your jaw joint, or even fractured your jaw—but you will never know without a proper evaluation.

Learn more about the causes of jaw pain and its treatments in this response to a Dear Doctor email, Jaw Pain.