Sleeping habits have a significant effect on your teeth that you might not be aware of. Sleeping with your mouth open and teeth grinding are common but harmful night time habits. Sleeping with your mouth open puts you at greater risk for cavities. Saliva helps neutralize acids that cause decay. To minimize the side effects brush with a fluoride toothpaste and rinse with an alcohol-free mouthwash prior to going to bed. The alcohol found in many mouthwashes can dry your mouth out even more. Also adding a humidifier to your nightly routine may help. If you wake up with a headache this might be a sign of teeth grinding. Grinding your teeth could cause tooth cracks, which if left untreated could lead to a severe problem. If a larger problem begins to emerge you may need to contact your local Salt Lake City oral surgery dentist to repair any damage. Please contact our office at the first sign of a problem to discuss a preventative plan of action.

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