I recently decided to get a new dentist and picked an office that's both nearby and has good on-line reviews. It helped that he's European trained as I'd previously has a Russian dentist that was hands down the best dentist I've ever had. He was also very aggressive when it came to billing my insurance and after a while I got tired of facilitating his scam so got a new dentist.
I went to the new dentist to see if he could help with excessive tooth sensitivity I was having that my current (at that time) dentist was at a loss over. He recommended a sleep study, claiming that sleep apnea could result in grinding my teeth which would in turn contribute to sensitivity. It was only $130 so I went for it.
The results are that I'm not getting a good rest at night and that I have mild sleep apnea. Treatments range from a splint for $600 to a dental appliance that is like a splint but with extra features to keep my jaw from moving (which restricts airflow) for $3.5K, to a CPAP machine.
I'd had a splint before but the thing fell apart after a few months. And besides according to the new dentist a splint would do very little for me. The Dental Appliance seems like the best option but #1. that's a lot of money, and #2 are they actually effective?
I've always been a light sleeper and tend to get 6-7 of sleep a night. I don't feel tired during the day but as the dentist pointed out what seems normal to me may actually be abnormal.
Does anyone have any thoughts on my situation that can provide some context to help me make a decision?
Sleep apnea can make a person tired and have low energy throughout the day, this can lead to a lack of physical exercise which leads to obesity, which leads to worse sleep and even less activity. A vicious cycle.
Sleep apnea is definitely worse when you are overweight, but it's not always the cause or reason for sleep apnea. A person born with a large tongue or their lingual frenulum can be to far back, both causing the tongue to come at rest on the back of the throat which then blocks the air causing people to stop breathing and momentarily jolted out of REM sleep, even if the person doesn't wake up.
A good indicator that you have sleep apnea is that you remember a lot of wild dreams, this is because you are often jolted out of REM sleep and have better memories of your dreams.
The CPAP machines are a somewhat cheap solution to this problem but if you have the money and there is a medical option your dentist can provide to keep your tongue from falling back on your throat, I'd choose that as having a machine strapped to your head when you sleep for the rest of your life really sucks.
"this can lead to a lack of physical exercise which leads to obesity"
Obesity has nothing at all to do with exercise. Nothing. No not one thing. Obesity is totally related to eating too many calories. Cut yourself back to 500 calories a day and you will lose weight without any exercise at all and it'll be the easiest weight loss you ever did. I highly recommend you make those 500 calories be cooked hamburger meat with the fat or other high nutrient density food that does not include sugar or carbs at all.
You kinda have to be a sadistic fucker to be a dentist. Why can't you just use one of those mouth guards that nigger ball players use?
I just went to an orthopedic doctor to get my hand looked at to make sure I didn't have nerve damage. Nope, no damage but he thinks I maybe might possibly have carpal tunnel syndrome so he sold me (or my insurance company, not sure yet) a splint that I'm supposed to wear when I sleep. Fucking thing is uncomfortable and it doesn't help. I think it's poor circulation because I've smoked for 20+ years. Doc say "oh no, it's probably not a circulation problem, it's probably orthopedic". Yeah, no shit he's gonna say that. That's how he makes money. Fucking liars, the lot of them.
If I were you, I'd try to find a natural way to solve the situation. Modern humans have been around for (what they tell us) 200000 years and all of a sudden in the last 100 years everyone needs a doctor or a dentist of some kind. Fuck that shit.
Also, I got a CPAP machine just sitting in the shed if you want it. No, I'm not joking. No, I never used it.
Edit: nevermind, you need a script for one so it's illegal to just give it to you. Fucking bureaucrats.
LOL I know at least 6 people with CPAP machines. One person uses his every night -- or else his wife would leave him over his snoring -- but everyone else has theirs in the closet. It's unlikely I'll be getting one. Though it was good of you to offer yours. Cheers!
It breaks down the protective layer in your teeth and makes them more sensitive.
Also stop brushing your teeth everyday. Do it once a day and eat raw coconut oil twice a day. Swish the coconut oil for a few minutes (5 minutes is better) before swallowing or spitting it out.
I was drinking undiluted lemon juice last Spring and I suspect that's what did it, ie. removed the protection that Sensodyne toothpaste has been providing. But even after I stopped the lemon juice the sensitivity persisted and after a few months of discomfort I broke down and went to the dentist. Since then, however, the sensitivity has begun to decrease so I think that I was finally able to build up a protective layer again.
That's an interesting comment about coconut oil. What does it do specifically?
Unfortunately my teeth stain really badly and I needed to brush twice daily or else I spend literally hours with the dental hygenist at each check up.
As you already know. You are obsessed with your teeth. It sounds counter intuitive however brush once a day and do the coconut oil as often as you want per day
Yeah perhaps I am obsessed with my teeth. In my 20s I didn't bother to go to a dentist. But when my new wife insisted that she couldn't stand my staining any more I went to one and oh man was my mouth a mess. Since then I've been rigorous about my dental care and so far at least it's paying off.
I recall now my mother, who lost all of her teeth at a relatively young age and wore a set of dentures, admonishing me to take care of my teeth. Though being young and stoopid I blew her off, of course.
correct. people sleep poorly because of stress. you have to identify the stress and remove it, and that's much harder to do in our culture and society than it should be. i believe most people in America to be chronically sleep deprived.
[ + ] BoozyB
[ - ] BoozyB 4 points 1.7 yearsAug 18, 2022 12:32:45 ago (+4/-0)
[ + ] Swej_Ehtsag
[ - ] Swej_Ehtsag 1 point 1.7 yearsAug 18, 2022 14:42:28 ago (+1/-0)
Sleep apnea is definitely worse when you are overweight, but it's not always the cause or reason for sleep apnea. A person born with a large tongue or their lingual frenulum can be to far back, both causing the tongue to come at rest on the back of the throat which then blocks the air causing people to stop breathing and momentarily jolted out of REM sleep, even if the person doesn't wake up.
A good indicator that you have sleep apnea is that you remember a lot of wild dreams, this is because you are often jolted out of REM sleep and have better memories of your dreams.
The CPAP machines are a somewhat cheap solution to this problem but if you have the money and there is a medical option your dentist can provide to keep your tongue from falling back on your throat, I'd choose that as having a machine strapped to your head when you sleep for the rest of your life really sucks.
[ + ] Crackinjokes
[ - ] Crackinjokes 0 points 1.7 yearsAug 18, 2022 21:46:05 ago (+0/-0)
Obesity has nothing at all to do with exercise. Nothing. No not one thing. Obesity is totally related to eating too many calories. Cut yourself back to 500 calories a day and you will lose weight without any exercise at all and it'll be the easiest weight loss you ever did. I highly recommend you make those 500 calories be cooked hamburger meat with the fat or other high nutrient density food that does not include sugar or carbs at all.
[ + ] Cantaloupe
[ - ] Cantaloupe 3 points 1.7 yearsAug 18, 2022 15:39:55 ago (+3/-0)
Maybe use a fan so you get more air? Check for allergies, test taking a 12 hour allergy pill. Check if it worked.
Get a second opinion.
[ + ] PeckerwoodPerry
[ - ] PeckerwoodPerry 3 points 1.7 yearsAug 18, 2022 13:21:46 ago (+3/-0)*
I just went to an orthopedic doctor to get my hand looked at to make sure I didn't have nerve damage. Nope, no damage but he thinks I maybe might possibly have carpal tunnel syndrome so he sold me (or my insurance company, not sure yet) a splint that I'm supposed to wear when I sleep. Fucking thing is uncomfortable and it doesn't help. I think it's poor circulation because I've smoked for 20+ years. Doc say "oh no, it's probably not a circulation problem, it's probably orthopedic". Yeah, no shit he's gonna say that. That's how he makes money. Fucking liars, the lot of them.
If I were you, I'd try to find a natural way to solve the situation. Modern humans have been around for (what they tell us) 200000 years and all of a sudden in the last 100 years everyone needs a doctor or a dentist of some kind. Fuck that shit.
Also, I got a CPAP machine just sitting in the shed if you want it. No, I'm not joking. No, I never used it.
Edit: nevermind, you need a script for one so it's illegal to just give it to you. Fucking bureaucrats.
[ + ] pickingrinninspittin
[ - ] pickingrinninspittin [op] 2 points 1.7 yearsAug 18, 2022 15:19:59 ago (+2/-0)
[ + ] deleted
[ - ] deleted 0 points 1.7 yearsAug 18, 2022 13:39:30 ago (+0/-0)
[ + ] Native
[ - ] Native 2 points 1.7 yearsAug 18, 2022 13:07:45 ago (+2/-0)
It breaks down the protective layer in your teeth and makes them more sensitive.
Also stop brushing your teeth everyday. Do it once a day and eat raw coconut oil twice a day. Swish the coconut oil for a few minutes (5 minutes is better) before swallowing or spitting it out.
[ + ] pickingrinninspittin
[ - ] pickingrinninspittin [op] 0 points 1.7 yearsAug 18, 2022 15:37:18 ago (+0/-0)
That's an interesting comment about coconut oil. What does it do specifically?
Unfortunately my teeth stain really badly and I needed to brush twice daily or else I spend literally hours with the dental hygenist at each check up.
[ + ] Native
[ - ] Native 1 point 1.7 yearsAug 18, 2022 15:51:58 ago (+1/-0)
As you already know. You are obsessed with your teeth. It sounds counter intuitive however brush once a day and do the coconut oil as often as you want per day
[ + ] pickingrinninspittin
[ - ] pickingrinninspittin [op] 1 point 1.7 yearsAug 18, 2022 16:01:53 ago (+1/-0)
Yeah perhaps I am obsessed with my teeth. In my 20s I didn't bother to go to a dentist. But when my new wife insisted that she couldn't stand my staining any more I went to one and oh man was my mouth a mess. Since then I've been rigorous about my dental care and so far at least it's paying off.
I recall now my mother, who lost all of her teeth at a relatively young age and wore a set of dentures, admonishing me to take care of my teeth. Though being young and stoopid I blew her off, of course.
[ + ] Native
[ - ] Native 2 points 1.7 yearsAug 18, 2022 21:36:25 ago (+2/-0)*
She clearly has too much time on her hands if she focuses on your teeth
[ + ] Empire_of_the_Mind
[ - ] Empire_of_the_Mind 2 points 1.7 yearsAug 18, 2022 12:45:05 ago (+2/-0)
[ + ] SumerBreeze
[ - ] SumerBreeze 0 points 1.7 yearsAug 18, 2022 14:02:14 ago (+0/-0)
[ + ] con77
[ - ] con77 2 points 1.7 yearsAug 18, 2022 12:21:13 ago (+2/-0)
[ + ]deleted
[ - ] deleted 1 point 1.7 yearsAug 18, 2022 13:45:22 ago (+1/-0)
[ + ] pickingrinninspittin
[ - ] pickingrinninspittin [op] 0 points 1.7 yearsAug 18, 2022 15:22:09 ago (+0/-0)
[ + ] FUBAR
[ - ] FUBAR 1 point 1.7 yearsAug 18, 2022 12:27:20 ago (+1/-0)
[ + ] lord_nougat
[ - ] lord_nougat 1 point 1.7 yearsAug 18, 2022 12:35:54 ago (+1/-0)*
[ + ] FacelessOne
[ - ] FacelessOne 1 point 1.7 yearsAug 18, 2022 12:21:00 ago (+1/-0)
[ + ] Empire_of_the_Mind
[ - ] Empire_of_the_Mind 0 points 1.7 yearsAug 18, 2022 12:47:13 ago (+0/-0)
[ + ] Anus_Expander
[ - ] Anus_Expander 0 points 1.7 yearsAug 19, 2022 09:43:55 ago (+0/-0)
[ + ] SteppingRazor
[ - ] SteppingRazor 0 points 1.7 yearsAug 18, 2022 13:34:30 ago (+0/-0)
If you need a study, only do it at home.
[ + ] HeyJames
[ - ] HeyJames 0 points 1.7 yearsAug 18, 2022 12:50:08 ago (+0/-0)
[ + ]deleted
[ - ] deleted 0 points 1.7 yearsAug 18, 2022 12:46:37 ago (+0/-0)
[ + ] PeckerwoodPerry
[ - ] PeckerwoodPerry 1 point 1.7 yearsAug 18, 2022 13:11:29 ago (+1/-0)
[ + ] s23erdctfvyg
[ - ] s23erdctfvyg 0 points 1.7 yearsAug 18, 2022 12:22:55 ago (+0/-0)