So, some people don’t exactly enjoy going to the dentist on their scheduled 6 month intervals but what some people don’t realize is how crucial it is. It’s as necessary as seatbelts in your car. Regular visits to the dentist could save a lot of time and money by catching and avoiding health issues early. Here are a few imperative reasons to keep your biannual appointments.

1. Cleans Teeth

This one is a no-brainer, but no matter how much you may brush or floss you can’t get rid of all the gum destroying plaque between your teeth and near your gumline. Regular checkups mean that the plaque and tartar buildup are properly removed in addition to stains from coffee, tea and tobacco. Polished teeth feel and look good and thats important to dentists and patients.

2. Bye Bye Bad Breath

No one likes to get a whiff of death breath. Make sure you’re not the one emitting that awful odor with a cleaning. A regular cleaning will get bad breath under control and if not, a dentist can determine the underlying cause to manage and cure the issue.

3. Overall Physical Health

Gum disease is linked to heart disease, pancreatic cancer and even strokes. Professional cleanings will keep your teeth and gums healthy and could reduce the risk of these major diseases.

4. Early diagnosis of Oral Health Issues

Tooth decay, gum disease and oral cancer can easily be caught and prevented if discovered early. Tooth decay leads to extremely painful dental problems and gum disease is one of the leading causes of tooth loss in adults. These inflictions are avoidable and seeing a dentist may very well save your life!

Regular dental checkups are essential to maintaining your oral as well as overall physical health. Problems can be detected early and you can avoid the pain and costliness of letting an undetectable minor problem fester and grow into a major health issue. Whether or not your visit ends with a life-saving treatment or simply a filled cavity, walk out of your dentists office with brilliant pearly whites!

Healthysmile360

Dr. Michael Mostofi

Aliso Viejo Dentist

9 Reasons to Suspect It May Be More Than Just Snoring

Sure snoring isn't sexy, but it can also be an indication of a more serious medical problem called Obstructive Sleep Apnea. In people with sleep apnea, the throat collapses during sleep cutting off the flow of oxygen. 90% of people who have sleep apnea are not aware of it. Usually its the bed partner who notices the signs of apnea so check with your bed partner.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea occurs more often in people who are overweight, over age 35 and in men (although this may be just because women have been under reported). Reason 1: Excessive daytime sleepiness

If you tend to drowse off while sitting quietly at home, at work, on the phone or while driving, it could be a sign that you are not getting refreshing sleep at night. Reason 2: Loud snoring

Almost all people who have sleep apnea snore but not everyone who snores has sleep apnea. Loud snoring also interferes with a bed partner's sleep and can cause high blood pressure. Reason 3: Cessation of breathing

Your sleeping partner may notice frequent times through the night when you stop breathing. his can occur for a little as 5 times an hour to more than 50 times an hour. The number of times you stop breathing wll determine whether you have mild apnea or severe apnea. Reason 4: Gasping or choking while sleeping

When the throat collapses during sleep, the brain forces you to partially awaken to breathe. This can happen many times during an hour and keep you from getting the deep sleep you need. Reason 5: Feeling unrefreshed in the morning

Because you are not getting the sleep you need, you may feel more tired in the morning after a night's sleep than you did the night before. THis can also cause problems with memory, concentration and personality changes. Reason 6: Heartburn or a sour taste in the morning or at night

Many people with sleep apnea regurgitate stomach acid while sleeping. This is known as GERD and can cause problems with your esophagus and your teeth. Reason 7: Headaches, sore throat or dry mouth in the morning

Almost half the people with sleep apnea have headaches due to a poor night's sleep. Reason 8: Sexual dysfunction

It's true! Obstructive sleep apnea sufferers may experience a lack of sexual desire because of fatigue. In men, sleep apnea can be a cause of ED. Reason 9: Sweating and chest pain at night

Cardiac deaths occur in the early morning hours with people who suffer from sleep apnea.

Something else you should be aware of - shirt collar size is a good indicator of sleep apnea especially in people with high blood pressure and those who awake gasping and choking at night. If you are a woman and have a neck size of 16 inches or more, or you are a man with a shirt collar neck size of 17 inches or more and have any of the above reasons to be concerned, please check with your doctor.

Dr.Michael Mostofi Aliso Viejo Dentist www.HealthySmile360.com 949-831-5511