Sleep and Dental Health
When we talk about dental care, one of the things which we often overlook is sleep. Adequate sleep and dental health don’t appear to have an obvious connection; however, in looking into the effects of sleep deprivation on the body, the link becomes all too clear. If you have a problem with late-night munching, the problem may not be a lack of willpower; it might be exhaustion.
Lipids
When a person is tired, their body produces a fat known as endocannabinoid. As the name suggests, this lipid acts on the brain in a similar manner as marijuana. Endocannabinoid gives a tired person the munchies, and often for high-pleasure, low-food value products like chips, candy, and other high-fat junk food. These are the foods that cause the most damage to teeth.
Hormones
Other hormones, those which regulate hunger, are affected by lack of sleep as well. A hormone called leptin decreases hunger, but leptin levels drop when a person is tired. An appetite stimulant hormone, ghrelin, increases when a person doesn’t get enough sleep. So, a tired person is a hungry person without much willpower! The result is the likely consumption of between-meal snacks.
Too tired to brush
Once the leptin drops and the ghrelin rises, and the endocannabinoid gives a tired person the munchies, the result can be an evening of high-fat, low-value junk food binging. It’s easy to see how, once a tired person is full, the best feeling in the world is to fall into bed without brushing, flossing, and rinsing. We have all done it, and it has an impact on dental health. The bacteria in your mouth have all night to turn sugar and starches into your mouth into the acids that cause decay. The plaque in the mouth has time to calcify into hard material which brushing can’t remove.
Overlooking the obvious
The obvious solution is to get enough sleep. Dedicate yourself to a regular bedtime and bedtime routine, which includes meticulous dental care. The harsh reality is that sometimes, a consistent routine is going to be curtailed. It’s a fact of life. We understand that it isn’t always possible to get enough sleep. The solution is to work around exhaustion habits on days we know we won’t be able to perform our routine. Here are some ideas:
Keep a toothbrush at work or in the kitchen. On days you know you’re tired, brush and floss right after meals. Not brushing after late-night snacks might not be ideal, but it’s better than nothing.
Keep water with you all day to swish away bits of food and sugary drinks.
Chew sugarless gum containing Xylitol. The bacteria in your mouth will consume the Xylitol, but it clogs up their digestion and kills them.
Switch up your flossing routine to twice a day until you can catch up on your rest.
Lack of sleep has many detrimental effects. The consequences of dental neglect due to exhaustion can be cavities, gum disease, and, ultimately, poor systemic health. Once you catch up on your sleep, you can go back to your healthy eating and dental care routines. In the meantime, just do the best you can to take care of your dental needs until your life returns to normal.
If you need routine dental care or are having a dental problem, we are here to help. If you need a gentle, caring dental team, please call our office at (623) 362-2550. We’ll give you the very best dental care we can!
