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Health Sleep, Healthy Ageing

Health Sleep, Healthy Ageing

Mar 14, 2019 | Health, Sleep

World Sleep Day March 15 2019
This year world sleep day focuses on the importance of sleep and ageing. With ageing, changes in our body clock and hormonal changes can cause increased sleepiness earlier in the day. In addition the production of melatonin (a natural hormone that promotes sleep) is reduced and we can find it harder to fall off to sleep at a normal sleep time.

Medical conditions like Parkinson disease, waking at night to urinate, indigestion and lung diseases such as asthma or COPD can affect sleep. The drugs used to treat these conditions may also interfere with sleep. Mood disorders like anxiety and depression can both interfere with getting to sleep as well as cause wakefulness during the night.
At least 1 in 4 older people have sleep apnoea or periodic limb movement disorder. These problems can also disturb the sleep of your bed partner.

What can I do to improve my sleep?

  • It is very important to keep regular sleep hours. So try to go to bed at about the same time every night and get out of bed about the same time every morning. Avoid sleeping in, even if you have had a poor night’s sleep and are tired.
  • Don’t go to bed too early and try to only spend the time in bed that you actually need for sleeping. If you happen to wake early, think about getting out of bed and starting your day.
  • Exposure to sunlight during the morning and late afternoon also help your body clock.
  • Day time exercise (preferably outdoors) will help you to get sleepier at night.
  • Avoid eating and drinking alcohol 3hrs (preferably 4hrs) prior to bedtime.
  • Naps late in the afternoon or lasting longer than 15-20 minutes can affect your sleep. An afternoon nap may help your energy levels but may also interfere with sleeping at night and are best avoided.

Talk to a medical professional if you have persistent sleep problems, that affect your daytime wellbeing and energy or you are always feeling sleepy during the day. Neither of these is a normal result of ageing and help is available.

It is important to remember that your sleep needs and patterns change as you age. Focusing on your sleep is as important as looking after your diet and exercising.

Sleep Wrecked Kids by Sharon Moore – An Overview

Sleep Wrecked Kids by Sharon Moore – An Overview

Feb 8, 2019 | Sleep

I am sure most parents can relate to the title of this book, as 25%- 40% of all children suffer from some form of sleep disturbance. In “Sleep Wrecked Kids” Sharon Moore starts from ground up by addressing a simple question, “What is good sleep”? Not surprisingly, most people don’t know and at the end of the day, when your child has not slept, most people do whatever it takes.

Designed for parents, her book goes on to provide an overview of common sleep disorders that can affect children. It outlines some behaviours that a sleep deprived child may exhibit. Sharon outlines some red flags that a parent can identify – sleep, behavioural, environment, airway, medical, myofunctional and dental red flags. She provides parents with simple yet effective, charts and questions that they can use to evaluate their own child prior to seeing professional advice.

The book provides some practical routine tips to help parents improve their child’s sleep. It then goes on to introduce medical, dental and allied health practitioners who you as a parent can consult for further advice.
Remember if you as a parent have trouble sleeping, then your child may not sleep well.

Sharon’s insights and positive practical solutions to improve sleep are invaluable to everyone. If you have a child who has a sleeping problem, don’t delay, have a read today. You will not be disappointed.
Visit the following website to order as well as access to free resources to get you started today.

http://sleepwreckedkids.com/

References
Moore, S. (2018). Sleep wrecked kids: Helping parents raise happy, healthy kids, one sleep at a time

Oventus O2 Vent for Snoring & Sleep Apnoea – Available in Point Cook

Oventus O2 Vent for Snoring & Sleep Apnoea – Available in Point Cook

Oct 31, 2018 | Sleep

Oventus O2 Vent for Snoring and Sleep Apnoea – Now Available in Point Cook, Melbourne

We are proud to announce that we are an accredited provider of Oventus oral appliances, including the Oventus O2Vent.

What is the difference between the Oventus O2Vent and other oral devices?

Like all oral appliances that bring the jaw forward, the O2Vent stabilises the jaw position and brings the tongue forward to reduce airway collapse. In addition, the unique airway allows for breathing through the device, so you can bypass any nasal or soft tissue obstruction, which can contribute to snoring and sleep-disordered breathing.

Some Benefits of the Oventus O2Vent:

1. Airway

The O2VentTM has an enclosed airway about the size of a healthy human nose incorporated into it. Air is delivered through the enclosed airway to the back of the mouth so patients can breathe through the device if they have a blocked nose, soft palate collapse or are mouth breathers.

2. Small & Streamlined

The O2Vent is 3D printed in medical grade titanium which facilitates its lightweight, thin wall and complex hollow structure incorporating its unique airway design. This allows us to build an airway into a more streamlined device that is less than 5mm thick which is about the size of a standard mouthguard.

3. Lightweight

The uniquely-designed mouthguard weighs approximately 35 grams.

4. Comfort

The O2Vent is lined with a medical grade, polymer liner to maximise patient comfort. The design of this customised device comfortably fits around your teeth, and provides ample space to accommodate the tongue.

Proof that the Oventus device works

An Oventus clinical trial showed that 100 per cent of patients experienced a significant reduction in snoring. In this study, 82% of patients eliminated snoring completely and 76% of patients reduced their sleep apnoea by more than half. (Journal of Dental Sleep Medicine, Vol 4 No.3 July 2017.

How do I know if I am a candidate?

Whether you snore, or have more severe sleep-disordered breathing, you are likely to benefit from the O2VentTM. The O2VentTM is particularly helpful for people with nasal obstruction.

Is it suitable for a mouth breather or patients with nasal congestion?

Yes. The O2VentTM does not prevent you from breathing through the nose, but provides an additional airway within the device to create a low resistance airway to breathe through the device. Although counterintuitive, the O2Vent actually prevents oral breathing. Oventus clinical trial data showed that compliance with treatment did not appear to be reduced by the presence of nasal congestion. (Lavery et al. Journal of Dental Sleep Medicine Vol.4 No.3 July 2017)

Do I need to do a sleep study?

Sleep physicians recommend a sleep study before any oral appliance is prescribed. A diagnosis from a sleep study is necessary to be eligible for any private health insurance rebates

What is involved in getting an O2Vent?

To obtain an O2VentTM, the process is relatively simple. A Digital scan is taken of your teeth. It takes around four weeks to manufacture and deliver your custom-made mouthguard.

If you have any further questions on the Oventus O2Vent, please contact us on (03) 9395 8338.

Why mouth breathing is bad for your health?

Why mouth breathing is bad for your health?

Aug 31, 2018 | Health, Sleep

Why mouth breathing is bad for your health?

At the dental gallery we routinely screen for correct breathing and tongue position during our regular 6-monthly preventative examinations

The nose is best suited for breathing because it warms, humidifies and filters the air to prevent bacteria and particles entering the lungs. Mouth breathing leads to chronic irritation of the airway and can result in enlarged adenoids and tonsils in children.

There are many research studies describing the bad health consequences of mouth breathing.

Here are a few reasons why it is bad to mouth breathe.

Less production of nitric oxide

Nitric oxide is a gas that dilates (makes larger) blood vessels in the body and as a result increases oxygen uptake by the lungs. This gas is made in the sinuses. By breathing through your mouth, you’re missing out on production of this gas and also about 10 to 20% of additional oxygen uptake. As a result, you can compensate by breathing a bit faster and breathing off carbon dioxide. This can cause your carbon dioxide levels to drop, raising blood pH levels, and preventing oxygen from being released as easily to your body’s tissues.

It can cause crooked teeth

Breathing through your mouth prevents your face and jaw from developing properly. Inadequate jaw development can lead to crowding of your teeth and even narrowing of the upper airway. For children, one of the biggest causes of teeth crowding is habitually breathing through the mouth rather than the nose.

One extreme example is often referred to as “Adenoid Facies”, which results in an open mouth and forward head posture, long, narrow face, high arched hard palate, recessed lower jaw, and chronic nasal congestion. Having a smaller jaw can make you much more susceptible to future sleep-related breathing disorders.

It can lead to dental cavities

Mouth breathing leads to you having less saliva and a dry mouth. Saliva reduces acid levels, and can help to prevent plaque build-up. Mouth breathing can also cause you to have bad breath.

Mouth breathing can cause your tongue to fall backwards in your mouth

Ever wondered why it’s harder for you to breathe when lying down in a dentist’s chair with your mouth wide open? Opening your mouth causes your tongue to fall back, preventing proper breathing and in severe cases can obstruct the airway. For adults, the changes to the airway introduced by mouth-breathing while sleeping can give rise to snoring and sleep apnoea.

Concerned? Here are some signs of mouth breathing:

  • Dry lips
  • Having an open mouth posture
  • Dry mouth with inflamed gums
  • A long and narrow face
  • Narrow high arched palate
  • Crowded teeth or lack of spacing between baby teeth
  • Enlarged tonsils
  • Having a forward head posture

Some Common causes of mouth-breathing are:

  • Allergies
  • Chronic colds and sinus infections
  • Enlarged adenoids and/or tonsils
  • Nasal polyps
  • Deviated nasal septum

So what can be done to address mouth-breathing?

At the dental gallery we take an integrative approach to mouth breathing and work with Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) specialists and medical professionals to address the causes. This includes:

  • Airway assessment with an ENT specialist
  • Assessment and management of chronic allergies and infections
  • Breathing retraining

Targeted dental treatment:
In children we can expand the upper jaw and this can allow the tongue to sit properly on the palate and correct teeth crowding.
In some cases the lower jaw can also be brought forward to improve the airway.
In mouth breathing adults, we can bring the lower jaw forward with a mandibular advancement splint.

World Sleep Day

World Sleep Day

Mar 16, 2018 | Sleep

World sleep day focuses on maintaining the body’s natural circadian rhythms. Circadian rhythms are the 24-hour rhythms that control many aspects of our behaviour, physiology and metabolism. Maintaining stable circadian rhythms is vital to good health. If we continually disrupt our rhythms, we increase the risk of sleep disorders, mental health disorders and chronic health issues such as obesity, diabetes, and even some cancers.

The best way to manage your body clock is by keeping a regular schedule. We should try to sleep and wake at the same time each day. Exposure to a regular light-dark cycle – bright days and dark nights – is vital in helping to maintain a regular cycle. Try and get as much daylight exposure in the daytime but then sleep in as dark a room as possible, or use an eye mask, to create a large day-night contrast.

World sleep daySound sleep is one of the three pillars of good health along with a balanced diet and regular exercise. World Sleep Day is an annual event, intended to be a celebration of sleep and a call to action on important issues related to sleep. It aims to lessen the burden of sleep problems on society through better prevention and management of sleep disorder.