Most people can differentiate between sunny, rainy or foggy days. However for almost 15% of adult Americans who live with untreated sleep apnea, the days can start to blend into one and another and
all seem foggy. Each day is a struggle — with energy, focus, stamina, health, memory, relationships, work, nutrition, fitness, and so on.  Many times these individuals feel drained and are left with an overwhelming feeling of muddling through each day. As a result, this can leave little room for anything more, let alone a spirit of thankfulness.

When a person’s daily ambition is to “just get through the day”, it is tough to feel thankful.  It can also be hard to accept what your loved ones are saying about your sleeping patterns and chronic snoring. However, if you have people in your life who care for you enough to address a potential problem, consider yourself one of the lucky ones. Knowing that someone has witnessed your breathing stopping at night, could be the first step in saving your life.

Struggling to breathe at night is a sure sign that there is something very wrong. Snoring (excessively) can also be a significant indicator to sleep apnea. The good news is, a potential problem has been identified and you can do something about it to be on your way to better health.

What you also should know is that you are not alone. We mentioned how many Americans are estimated to have sleep apnea but did you know that almost 85% of that group remains undiagnosed?
It’s time to be thankful for the awareness of a potential problem and that you perhaps have people in your life that really care for you.

As long as we’re making a list of things to appreciate, let’s talk about treatment options. Thank goodness for options! For many people, CPAP therapy is great solution. For others, an oral appliance is terrific option and has been proven to be very successful for people. (What’s even better is that oral appliances make traveling a breeze.) Weight loss can also help tremendously. In addition, surgery is sometimes an option for certain people.

Now that we’ve discussed the foggy state of perpetual exhaustion from untreated sleep apnea, coming
out of that fog, and reflecting on what to be thankful for, take a look at this simple French definition we came across for the word gratitude.  “Gratitude = a lively sense of future benefit.” If we can contemplate thankfulness from this perspective, we can start to see how someone’s future can highly benefit from
taking the next steps to achieving better health — testing and treatment.

If you or someone you know exhibit signs of sleep apnea, such as daytime fatigue and/or chronic snoring, call our office today for an appointment. If loved ones express their concern with your sleeping patterns and snoring, THANK THEM and seek testing immediately. Sleep apnea can be a life threatening sleep breathing disorder that should not be ignored.

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and you may be getting ready for some big fat kisses to come your way!

So even though at the office of Michel Dental, we’re concerned about cavities, gum disease, bad breath and lots of saliva, we won’t use this month’s blog entry to gross you out about kissing.  But we will tell you some interesting facts that you can tell your kissing partner right after they smack one on you!!

Anthropologists have argued for years about the origin of kissing.  Many now believe that it has evolved from the time when mothers chewed food for their babies and then went mouth to mouth at feeding time.  (Well, okay – we might gross you out a little bit!)  This action became so comforting to babies that the habit continued even after they could chew for themselves, and then developed into a sign of affection.

Nowadays kisses aren’t just about romantic love.  Of course parents kiss their children.  Worshippers often kiss religious artifacts.  Some people kiss the ground when exiting an airplane.  And who doesn’t want to have a “boo boo” kissed when they get a bruise?

But February 14^th is a day for the romantic kind of kiss, and if you are craving one, there may be a scientific reason.  While this action can promote a psychological response of warmth and affection, it also causes your brain to secrete some important and productive chemicals, such as:

• Oxytocin, which helps people develop feelings of attachment, devotion and affection for one another.
• Dopamine, which plays a role in the brain’s processing of emotions, pleasure and pain
• Serotonin, which affects a person’s mood and feelings
• Adrenaline, which increases heart rate and plays a role in your body’s fight-or-flight response

But along with that, when you kiss, hundreds or even millions of bacterial colonies are transported from one mouth to the other.  And let’s face it – no one wants to kiss a person who has poor oral hygiene, bad breath, or just a generally yucky mouth.  So let’s start with the basics:

• Make sure you brush at least twice a day with a soft toothbrush and fluoridated toothpaste.
• Floss once per day – if you have trouble flossing or are not sure how, please ask!  We’ll be glad to show you the ropes.
• Avoid sugary and acid-laden foods such as soft drinks, sports drinks, and candy.  (Okay – we won’t tell anyone if you have a tiny bit of candy on Valentine’s Day!)
• Eat a well balanced diet including lean proteins, healthy fats, fruits and vegetables, nuts and fiber.
• If you need to slip in a piece of gum or breath mint, make sure it contains Xylitol, which has been proven to reduce tooth decay.
• Drink plenty of water!  This helps to rinse away food particles, and staying hydrated is good for fresh clean breath.
• See your dentist on a regular basis and call immediately if you suspect there are any problems with your oral condition.

Here at the office of Michel Dental, we want you to have a kissable February 14^th and a lifetime of excellent dental health.  If you have any questions or need to set up an appointment, please give us a call at 785-273-0801.  We are here for you!

Consider this blog your news resource for information about oral health, dental procedures and technology, and what’s happening at your dentist’s office. We believe communication is key to building great doctor-patient relationships, and this dental blog is intended to keep us in touch with you. The best part is, you can simply bookmark this page in your browser, then visit whenever you like! Stay tuned for regular posts that will keep you informed.

If you need to schedule an appointment or are “interviewing” us as your potential new dental provider, call today! You may also want to review information about us here.