Although they are effective for patients who are able to tolerate them, CPAP machines have rightly earned a reputation for being just about as disruptive as the sleep disorder they aim to treat.

Recently, a mail-order business has aired television commercials promoting a membership plan that will supposedly send customers new, flexible CPAP masks at the beginning of every month. According to the commercials, the masks are able to quiet unwanted snorting and squealing sounds, because they fit much better than ordinary masks.

How effective can they be?

Let’s face it: since these mail-order CPAP masks aren’t custom-fitted to each patient’s face, they aren’t likely to have much impact on the annoying noises associated with CPAP-use. Additionally, even if the company could custom-fit their masks, the products wouldn’t be much help to patient’s who can’t tolerate CPAP due to claustrophobia and/or pressure sores.

Though CPAP offers help to some, more than a few patients simply cannot tolerate it. For a sleep apnea treatment that won’t force you to cope with pressure sores, annoying sounds and the sense of feeling trapped; contact Dr. Dunayer’s office today. Dr. Dunayer works with every patient when treating sleep apnea, and this one-on-one attention helps him customize a plan that fits each individual’s needs.

If you’re coping with sleep apnea, you won’t get answers from a mail-order membership plan. Get customized treatment from Dr. Dunayer.

When we picture oral and dental hygiene, many of us immediately think of brushing our teeth on a daily basis along with visits to the dentist for routine cleanings and check-ups. Though teeth brushing is a crucial part of keeping your teeth clean, it should always be followed by flossing. While brushing gets rid of a large percentage of oral bacteria, flossing is able to get rid of bacteria in hard-to-reach places, such as between the teeth. Toothbrushes simply cannot reach interdental plaque and bacteria.

Why Don’t We Floss?

In today’s world, flossing is widely neglected. For some, flossing takes too much time out of the day when compared to brushing. For others, flossing can be painful and can cause the gums to bleed if done improperly. These reasons alone may turn anyone away from wanting to use floss. But studies have shown that without flossing, the mouth is vulnerable to bacteria living between the teeth, which leaves the mouth and gums at risk for infections.

In efforts to encourage people to floss, Philips, who owns the Sonicare line of electric toothbrushes, has created the Sonicare AirFloss which was made to dislodge bacteria and plaque between the teeth. To do this, the product uses rapid bursts of air and water. According to Philips, the Sonicare AirFloss is able to remove about 99 percent of interdental plaque when used correctly.

To ensure that your smile remains healthy both inside and out, brush and floss daily, and schedule routine dental visits. To schedule appointments, patients can call or email Dr. Dunayer’s office today.

When you think of the dentist, oral health, or dental health, it’s likely that you think of fillings, root canals, tooth loss, cavities, routine cleanings, and other things commonly associated with the dentist’s office. While these are definitely well-known dental-related problems, there are plenty of other dental health conditions that a patient can suffer from, such as TMJ disorder. Though TMJ isn’t a widely-known problem, it is said to affect millions of Americans. TMJ symptoms may include neck pain, headaches, jaw pain, and several more.

TMJ disorder may seem to come on quickly, but there are plenty of signs that the problem may be lurking; and if these signs are acted upon properly, TMJ can be prevented. For example, patients who grind or clench their teeth are at a higher risk of suffering from TMJ. This is because the elevated amounts of stress and pressure placed on the teeth cause damage to the dentition. When clenching and grinding is left untreated, the continuing damage can lead to TMJ.

Treating nightly grinding and clenching only requires that the patient wear a mouth guard to protect the teeth from excessive wear and tear. To prevent TMJ, patients have to be aware of problems, such as grinding and clenching, that can create a pathway to even more oral health issues. Awareness combined with early detection is crucial to preventing TMJ disorder.

Awareness Means Prevention

Through awareness of TMJ disorder and treatable dental problems that can be addressed immediately, this painful problem can be prevented altogether. The key to avoiding any problem with your jaw joint is to treat oral health problems that could weaken the teeth and therefore weaken the jaw joint.

To learn more about TMJ prevention and treatment, don’t hesitate to contact Dr. Dunayer’s office today. Patients can reach us by phone or by email to schedule an appointment.