Millions of people, especially dental
professionals, suffer from sleep deprivation. While we are not yet a
nation of walking zombies, insufficient sleep or poor quality sleep
causes many of us to be distracted, irritable, inefficient, or prone to
mistakes. The reasons for our lack of sleep are myriad – stressful jobs
and family situations, health issues, night work or late shifts, and the
inability to “shut off” our minds when it’s time for bed. Dentists and
healthcare professionals are not immune from this debilitating trend.
Adults need seven to nine hours of sleep during each 24-hour period. But
here’s the caveat –sleep needs to be deep and restful. It won’t help to
get even 12 hours of sleep if you’re waking each hour. We need to
achieve the rapid eye movement (REM) stage of deep sleep, when we dream,
to benefit from sleep’s restorative effects.
What Are Sleep Aid Options For Dental Professionals?
Without quality sleep, people soon begin to experience mental
deterioration, and physical sluggishness is not far behind. We can
easily fall into a sleep deficit – experiencing night after night of
insufficient sleep that eventually catches up with us and impairs our
ability to function. Sleep deficits are particularly critical for
dentists and dental professionals, who are required to perform
high-precision dental procedures on a daily basis. Suffering from sleep
deprivation impairs dentists and assistants both mentally and physically
– and can result in lackluster dental work and a poor experience for
dental patients. So where can dentists and dental professionals turn for
a safe, effective sleep aid? Prescription medications are often
habit-forming, can lead to dependence, and may diminish in effectiveness
over time. Alternatively, melatonin is a natural hormone and is not
addictive, but melatonin won’t cure insomnia. It only helps you fall sleep, not stay asleep. Melatonin can also produce side effects and drug interactions.
Furthermore, it is difficult to be assured of quality with melatonin
supplements, as many manufacturers include additives or unnecessarily
high doses in their products.
Natural CBD Oil for Dentists and Assistants
We all need less stress in our lives, but barring that, natural cannabidiol (CBD) oil
is perhaps the best choice for facilitating deep, sustained sleep for
healthcare professionals. Published research has shown time and again
that CBD has a profoundly positive effect on sleep. For example, animal studies
have produced evidence that CBD helps enhance longer sleep duration and
staves off sleepiness during the daytime. Furthermore, this literature review
from the National Institutes of Health concluded that CBD can help with
daytime drowsiness and REM sleep behavior disorder. Additionally, CBD
has demonstrated anxiety-reducing benefits, and anxiety is a major cause
of insomnia among dentists and dental professionals. Like melatonin,
cannabidiol is a natural compound. While CBD oil is derived from hemp,
it does not contain THC and does not produce psychoactive effects. CBD
products are not addictive and exhibit no long-term side effects.
Extended use does not diminish the benefits of CBD oil, in contrast to
prescription sleeping pills or other drugs. We spend one-third of our
lives asleep. Shouldn’t that time consist of restorative and natural
rest? If you’re a dental professional and getting less-than-perfect
sleep and are a dentist, consider natural CBD oil to facilitate the rest
you need. Being a dentist is a high-responsibility and often
stress-inducing profession – and stress is consistently a driving factor
behind insomnia. Dental professionals need to have a sharp mental edge
and be physically capable in order to perform high-quality dental
procedures. CBD products are a safe, non-addictive, non-toxic option for
any healthcare professional.