Should I be Concerned about Snoring?

                                                

Snoring is a common condition that can affect anyone, men and women, socially and medically.  Socially, snoring is disruptive to family life and causes other family member sleepless nights.  A recent study by the Department of Health advertisements promoting martial health reports that snoring is a potential source of tension between spouses.  Medically, snoring can be a warning sign of a serious medical condition called Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).

                                                  What is Snoring?

Snoring occurs when something blocks air from flowing freely through the nose and mouth.  When you breathe, the walls of the throat vibrate and cause the snoring sound.

                                What are some of the causes that can lead to snoring?

·       swollen tonsils and adenoids that block the airways

·       being overweight, the fatty tissue in the neck puts pressure on the airways

·       growths in the nasal passages (nasal polys)

·       nasal congestion, stuffy nose from a cold or allergies

·       alcohol consumption before bedtime reduces the resting tone of the muscles in the back of the throat (reports WebMD)

** Snoring is definitely a concern because it is linked to a serious medical condition called Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).  

For more information on sleep apnea, contact Dr. Anna Lee and her team today. 

Do Children Grind Their Teeth?

About 15-33% of children grind their teeth during sleep between the ages of three and ten, but most of them stop grinding their teeth by age thirteen. Studies show that children who grind their teeth tend to do so at two peak times; when their baby teeth emerge and when permanent teeth come in according to Anna Lee, D.D.S at Glendora Dentistry. 

No one knows the exact cause of why children grind their teeth. A possible cause is the irregular contacts between upper and lower teeth when children have mixed dentition (baby teeth and permanent teeth). Another cause may be stress and anxiety.