Beck Dental Care of Columbia Blog

Between family, work, social activities, and educational responsibilities, it’s a pretty safe bet that you lead a stressful life. But unfortunately, stress doesn’t just affect your mental health. It can often have a variety of negative side effects on your oral and overall health, too. Here are a few ways it can manifest itself in your mouth, and what you can do to protect your smile.

The idea of secondhand smoke isn’t exactly new. Since the 1970’s, scientists have been confident that simply inhaling the vapor produced by nearby smokers can have negative effects on someone’s health. But research is never truly complete, and recent studies have linked secondhand inhalation to an increased risk of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in kids between the ages of 3 and 18.

Needless to say, this discovery has brought an age-old topic back to life! To learn more about what the research says, keep reading.

Your new dental implants are a permanent way to replace missing teeth, but that doesn’t mean they’re guaranteed to last forever. The truth is, the longevity of your new smile depends on a variety of factors, including your individual oral hygiene, lifestyle, and even the materials they’re made of. Here’s a quick breakdown of the different parts, and how long you can expect each one to last.

If you’re a pet parent, you may be used to drifting off to sleep with fluffy or fido close by, either in your bedroom or even in your bed. But what if you have sleep apnea? Will having your fur baby hurt the quality of your shuteye? Here’s what you need to know about sleeping with a pet in your bedroom!

If you suffer from sleep apnea, you may think the worst thing about this disorder is that you always feel tired. But the truth is, sleep apnea has many dangerous side effects that can not only diminish your quality of life, but it can also shorten your lifespan! Here’s how failure to treat sleep apnea can cost you not just your peace of mind, but your life!

Did you know the American Dental Association recommends seeing your dentist twice annually for routine checkups and cleanings? This allows them to monitor your oral health to catch and treat any problems before they progress.

Despite this, only an estimated 52.3% of adults in the United States have seen their provider in the past six months, and over 40% are likely only to schedule a visit when they already have an issue. However, practicing preventive care can save you money in the long run. Continue reading to learn 3 good reasons to schedule your next appointment sooner rather than later!

You can’t sleep. In fact, you’re having such a hard time with it, you’re willing to try almost anything – including CBD. Research about the benefits and risks of this compound is still ongoing, though, making it difficult to pin down whether it will actually alleviate your sleep apnea symptoms. So what should you do? Is it worth a shot?

While it’s important to consult with your sleep dentist and primary care physician before taking CBD, this post can certainly lay out all the details! Here’s what you should know.

Having a tooth taken out may not be your idea of fun, but with proper care afterward, healing can go smoothly. One common complication to watch out for is dry socket, a painful condition that can occur after a tooth extraction. Fortunately, with the right precautions, it’s also highly preventable. Keep reading to learn more about dry socket and ways you can steer clear of it.

Obstructive sleep apnea is a common condition that can cause a person to wake up a hundred times or more in a single night, and these frequent sleep disruptions can be quite stressful for the body. In addition to the frequent fatigue and grogginess this causes, it can also lead to serious overall health issues that can take years or decades off your life. Here’s a brief guide to a few of the dangers of sleep apnea and how your dentist can address the problem.

Would you be surprised to learn that an estimated 50% to 80% of people experience anxiety around dental appointments? It’s natural to feel nervous if you have an upcoming treatment, like a root canal or extraction, that has the potential to cause pain. However, many people are so afraid that they even avoid routine visits.

Your dentist can provide medication, like oral conscious sedation, to help you feel relaxed and comfortable, but many patients assume this is reserved for surgical procedures. Thankfully, that’s not necessarily true. Continue reading to learn more about this service and who can benefit from it!