Should dentists be asking patients about their sleeping schedule? Habits that cause one to sleep with his or her mouth open could mean more than just a mouthful of dust in the morning. A new study published in the Journal of Oral Rehabilitation finds that sleeping with one's mouth open predisposes an individual to dental erosion and decay. Breathing through the mouth while sleeping has been linked to higher bacterial activity, greater acidity, and decreased amounts of vital, tooth-remineralizing saliva.

Researchers at the University of Otago, New Zealand conducted a study measuring the pH of the oral cavity in participating individuals. A nose clip was used to force half the participants to breathe through their mouth, and a pH meter fixed to the palatal aspect of the upper central incisors. To control for natural variation in oral pH, the participants switched groups halfway through the study so that each participant spent half the time mouth-breathing and half the time sleeping normally.

The researchers found that daytime mouth pH averaged around 7.3, and fell to 7.0 during sleep in individuals breathing normally. However, in the mouth-breathing group, the average pH while sleeping was 6.6, a statistically-significant difference from the normal group. Additionally, when researchers viewed the complete data set, pH levels could get as low as 3.6 in members of the mouth-breathing group at points during the night. Tooth enamel begins to demineralize at pH 5.5, so this represents a significant risk for patients who chronically sleep with their mouth open.

So what are the chronically stuffy to do? Here are a few tips for your patients:

  • Before going to bed, breathe steam from a bowl of hot water or shower.
  • Use saline washes to open the nasal passages and clear obstructions.
  • Avoid sleeping on your back.
  • Speak with an ear, nose and throat specialist if chronic blockage is severe.

Source:
Choi, J. E., Loke, C., Waddell, J. N., Lyons, K. M., Kieser, J. A., & Farella, M. (2015). Continuous measurement of intra-oral pH and temperature: Development, validation of an appliance and a pilot study. J Oral Rehabil Journal of Oral Rehabilitation, 42(8), 563-570. Retrieved February 11, 2016.

Disclaimer

The information contained in this, or any case study post in Incisor should never be considered a proper replacement for necessary training and/or education regarding adult oral conscious sedation. Regulations regarding sedation vary by state. This is an educational and informational piece. DOCS Education accepts no liability whatsoever for any damages resulting from any direct or indirect recipient's use of or failure to use any of the information contained herein. DOCS Education would be happy to answer any questions or concerns mailed to us at 106 Lenora Street, Seattle, WA 98121. Please print a copy of this posting and include it with your question or request.

issue_no
1
The information contained in this, or any case study post in Incisor, should never be considered a proper replacement for necessary training and/or education regarding adult oral conscious sedation. Regulations regarding sedation vary by state. This is an educational and informational piece. DOCS Education accepts no liability whatsoever for any damages resulting from any direct or indirect recipient's use of or failure to use any of the information contained herein. DOCS Education would be happy to answer any questions or concerns mailed to us at 3250 Airport Way S, Suite 701 | Seattle, WA 98134. Please print a copy of this posting and include it with your question or request.
DOCS Membership

Upcoming Events
Streaming
May 17- 18, 2024
Atlanta, GA skyline
GA
August 23- 24, 2024
Streaming
October 04- 05, 2024

More Articles