Gum disease and sleep apnea represent two health issues we need to know more about. It’s up to our doctors and dentists to give us this information, and educate us to the ongoing advancements in diagnosis and treatment. So what if we don’t know the hidden dangers of bleeding gums, or the difference between a CPAP and an iPod. The important thing is our doctors and dentists do; and after we tell them our gums bleed when we brush, or our significant other can no longer take the snoring, they know how to help us maintain optimal health. It’s their job.
The common denominator here is US. We are the conduit to the dentist and family physician connection. It is important to communicate how we are feeling to both our primary care physicians and our dentists when we are on the examining table or in the dental chair.
And it is important to remember that the patient education and communication taking place between neighborhood medical & dental offices, and their surrounding communities, is something to take seriously…and maybe pay attention to once in a while. Spam and junk mail are annoying, but beneficial information from someone we trust is another story. After all, most of our resolutions include taking better care of ourselves in some way, shape, or form!
Check out this link for a New Year’s resolution you can sleep on: http://www.shiftworkdisorder.com/sleep-dentists-make-resolution-of-increased-sleep-apnea-awareness-in-2011-using-concerto-101723.html
