Studies have shown that for the healthiest teeth and gums, one needs between seven and eight hours of sleep per night. In addition, the rest should be continual. So, if the sleep is interrupted by periods of waking, it isn’t as beneficial as solid blocks of uninterrupted sleep. It is actually the quality of the sleep, rather than the quantity, that determines the dental health benefits.
There is a direct link between the onset of periodontal disease and the amount of sleep one gets. This can result in the shifting and loosening of teeth and eventually tooth loss if one does not regularly sleep enough.
Establishing a nightly routine and a consistent bedtime can go a long way in making a regular habit of nightly sleep. Turning computers and cell phones off at least thirty minutes prior to sleeping, relaxing in a shower or bath, taking the dog for a leisurely stroll for twenty minutes, and getting everything ready for the following morning can all be great measures in assuring that you will fall asleep quicker and stay asleep longer.
With the first month of 2018 coming to a swift conclusion, we wish all of our patients a healthy and happy remainder of the new year.
