Is there a connection between receding gums, snoring, and feeling less-than-energetic?
Today we’re going to put several puzzle pieces in place to help us navigate not only to greater oral health but also to whole-being wellness.
In a recent article titled, ‘What causes receding gums and how to stop it’ (which happened to be our most popular blog article yet, thank you), we explained that one of the major causes of gum recession is habitual nighttime teeth grinding (called bruxism).
In this month’s expert interview, we do a dive deep with Dr. Mark Burhenne, a California-based dentist who specializes in helping patients address sleep issues. Dr. Burhenne is also the author of the #1 Amazon best selling book, “The 8-Hour Sleep Paradox: How We Are Sleeping Our Way to Fatigue, Disease and Unhappiness”, which examines the connection between bruxism (grinding teeth), gum recession, snoring, adrenal fatigue, and sleep apnea.
While it may seem like a weird stretch to discuss the relationship between gum recession and chronic fatigue, low sex drive, etc., after watching our interview with Dr. B, you’ll see how all of these seemingly unrelated pieces fit together very well.
In fact, Dr. B makes a very strong statement that he can back up:
“Sleep apnea is the most important health concern ever.”
Now, that’s a pretty brash-sounding statement when you consider the impact of pesticides, GMOs, and other ‘global’ health issues.
In today’s interview, Dr. B discusses what it means if you grind your teeth at night and if you commonly snore. He also explains how these habits can be major signs of undiagnosed moderate sleep apnea, and how sleep apnea is a MAJOR cause of adrenal fatigue.
Show Notes:
- 1:03 Why is a dentist talking about sleep, fatigue, disease and unhappiness?
- 7:45 How grinding (bruxism) or pain in the jaw can be strong signs of sleep apnea.
- 12:20 Why quality of sleep is much more important than quantity of sleep.
- 12:30 How sleep quality directly relates to ADD and ADHD, cancer, diabetes, and even memory issues like Alzheimer’s disease.
- 19:20 Why even small, fit people may still have sleep apnea.
- 21:00 How 80% of sleep apnea goes undiagnosed.
- 31:25 Why children snoring is a big sign of trouble.
- 41:30 How to naturally increase your willpower!
Wrapping Up…
The bottom line is, if we aren’t getting a restful night’s sleep, how can we expect to have a vital expression of our genetic potential?
Do you know someone who snores or tends to be tired? Given the importance of this information, we hope you will share this interview with your loved ones who may benefit from it.
Plus, feel free to download our FREE eBook, the Guide to Safe Dentistry, which explains what questions to ask to find a dental team who will work with you on your journey to greater oral health.
Helpful, Related Resources:
Guide to Safe Dentistry [FREE eBook]
What causes receding gums and how to stop it [article]
How to Stop Receding Gums [article]
Dr Burhenne’s site [website]
Dr B’s book on amazon [book solution]
Have so much stress about financial issues, etc. that I don’t know how to sleep anymore. I just lay in bed and try to always have my tongue in between my teeth so that I don’t clack down or grind my teeth. I’m currently uninsured and out of work after moving to a new city last year, so I constantly worry about everything. Do you have a pill or a remedy for that? Which of your products would give me the biggest bang for the buck. I have receding gums. My teeth are yellow and brittle because my mother was give tetracycline when she was pregnant. I’ve been fighting dental issues because of that all my life. I don’t have a lot of money, but I want to do what I can to try and help myself as much as possible. Thank You.
Aloha C.B.,
We’re sorry to hear about your dental and financial difficulties!
We here at OraWellness aren’t medical or dental professionals, so we can’t treat, diagnose, advise, etc. Instead, what we can do is share information with you to help you become self-empowered on your journey. Now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s see what information we can share to help. 🙂
Here are a couple articles that touch on stress that you may find helpful:
How to use essential oils to reduce dental appointment anxiety and pain
Is Stress the Primary Cause of Gum Disease?
Our Healthy Teeth & Gums Starter Kit is the most affordable way to get most of our products. Feel free to use the coupon code welcome during checkout to get 10% off the product total (excludes shipping and orders that contain any VIP or subscription products).
Receding Gums:
It’s our understanding that gum recession can be caused by a few different factors. To stop recession, we have to find and address its root cause(s). Some factors that contribute to gum recession are: gum disease, stress-related teeth grinding (bruxism), bruxism related to sleep issues like sleep apnea, brushing too hard, flossing too hard, and brushing with the wrong technique. Also of fundamental importance is addressing any nutritional deficiencies that may be affecting oral health.
Here are our other resources on receding gums:
What Causes Receding Gums and How to Stop It
How to Stop Receding Gums
How Nutrition Plays a Foundational Role in Stopping and Reversing Gum Disease
Customer testimonials pertaining to receding gums
I hope that helps! Feel free to contact us with any other questions; we’re here to help.
Will and Susan and Dr. Burhenne,
Thank you so much for this video. I have some of the symptoms you are talking about as far as grinding, a sore neck and jaw. I do have a device which my periodontist gave me many moons ago, but I still have recession. I am sleepy a lot of the time and hit the snooze button several times before getting out of bed. I will be bringing this up with my dentist and doctor the next time I go. Fortunately, both appointments are in the next 3 weeks.
Thanks for sharing the best information and suggestions, highly energetic blog, I liked that a lot, Do you have any video of that? I’d love to find out some additional information.
I’ve been grinding my teeth as long as I can remember.(I’m 63). I have mild sleep apnea, but the CPAP freaked me out- when I exhaled, it felt like it was sucking the air out of me. I had a panic attack at the sleep lab. ( maybe because I was born with asthma-I know how scary it is when you can’t breathe…) I had the appliance made, but it was miserable. I tend to grit my teeth all the time and the tip of my tongue is always up to the roof of my mouth all day and night.. It makes me feel like there is nowhere for my tongue to be with the appliance in place, kind of like my tongue is too big, so that also freaked me out…I read somewhere something about your tongue being enlarged due to some other health issue, but can’t remember where I read it. Have you heard of that? Thanks for the video on sleep apnea. Will try the appliance again.
Hi Will and Susan, I first wish you both a Happy New Year. I have been a user of the Healthy Blend formula since last Sept. and have stayed with it since then. I noted in your last e-mail you sent me referring to Dr. Steven Lin and his soon to be released book The Dental Diet, will you be interviewing him the future and are you going to be reviewing his book as well,
Regards,
Brian
Aloha Brian,
Thanks for your positive words and appreciation of our products. Yes, we recently interviewed Dr Lin and plan to publish it later this month.