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Lack of sleep and sleep deprivation are associated with many serious and chronic health problems. Therefore, doctors always advise that you should get enough sleep to avoid those risks that affect most parts of the body.
But what many don’t know is the effect of sleep deprivation on dental health. Some studies have found that a bad night’s sleep affects our dental health in more ways than we can imagine.
Cosmetic dentist Sandeep Patel explains the ways sleep deprivation can wreak havoc on our teeth.
“When you are deprived of sleep, your body produces an increased amount of inflammatory hormones,” Patel says. This can increase the risk of developing gingivitis. This then leads to periodontitis, known as periodontal disease.”
Not getting enough sleep each night puts us at risk for gum disease, says Patel. This leads to loose and wobbly teeth, and in rare cases causes tooth loss.
Lack of sleep reduces the amount of saliva in the mouth, and proper saliva flow into the oral cavities is imperative to maintaining oral and dental hygiene.
Patel explains: “Breakness is the term for a condition in which a person grinds their teeth together during the day when you are awake or during the night while sleeping.
He continued, “Teeth grinding can lead to a number of dental problems such as damaged, broken or crooked teeth, jaw disorders, increased tooth sensitivity and enamel erosion.”
As a result of slow, lethargic awakenings after a night of poor sleep, you may be giving up your usual oral hygiene routine, which Patel says can lead to tooth decay.
A lack of sleep can weaken our immune system — and when we are compromised, it can affect many different areas of our health, including the teeth.”