Sleep Apnea: Your Dentist Can Help

You may have heard about sleep apnea, but do you know that your dentist can help remedy this breathing difficulty? If left untreated, this condition can lead to stroke, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes. The disease affects patients of all ages and the symptoms may vary depending on your age. Brar Dentistry is a leader in general, cosmetic, & implant dentistry in South Elgin. The facility specialists understand that you might not know that you gasp for air and snore loudly during sleep, which lowers your chance of seeking early treatment. Do not wait until your partner starts to complain about loud snores for you to start seeking treatment.

Below are the signs that you may have sleep apnea.

Signs and symptoms of sleep apnea

Obstructive and central sleep apneas may have overlapping signs and symptoms, making it hard to determine the form you are suffering from. Below are the most common symptoms of obstructive and central sleep apnea:

•       Morning headaches that last for a while

•       Waking up with a sore throat 

•       Pain in the facial muscles due to snoring

•       Grinding of teeth while asleep/bruxism

•       Waking up feeling tired, making you feel lazy and sleepy during the day

•       Lethargy, which leads to obesity, further complicating your condition due to the airway's narrowing

Obstructive sleep apnea

This is a more complicated form of sleep apnea. Your airway becomes blocked when the roof of your throat collapses, making you unable to breathe during sleep. This sends an alarm to the brain, causing you to wake up, gasping for air and shocked.

Central sleep apnea (CSA) is a less severe form of sleep apnea, where the brain fails to send signals to the lungs so that you can inhale air.

Snoring

You snore when your airway experiences a substantial resonance when inhaling and exhaling. If you have sleep apnea, your throat muscles over to relax when you fall asleep, causing the airway to be partially blocked. This limits air movement, causing resonance and vibrations in the throat and consequently, snoring, which can be a bit disturbing to your partner.  

What's the solution?

Sleep apnea is caused by a partial or complete blockage of the airway. Your doctor provides comprehensive treatment options to help you sleep in peace. Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) can help settle your problem. This device contains a continuous oxygen supply, a pressurized tank, and a mouth and nose mask. Continuous positive airway pressure helps prevent tissues' collapse to help you breathe easily and get adequate sleep at night.

Your dentist also has an option for the mandibular advancement device. This is an oral appliance that is fitted to help push the lower jaw forward so that the airway opening can expand and prevent the upper part of your throat from collapsing. 

You deserve a good night’s sleep so that you can wake up refreshed and energized to handle the opportunities and challenges that present the following day. If you or your loved one has sleep apnea, schedule a consultation with your dentist at Brar Dentistry to learn about the available treatment options.