Do you snore on a frequent basis, or struggle with daytime exhaustion? These are both common warning signs of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and without care this could harm your overall health. Fortunately, we can help! In today’s blog, your Katy, TX, dentist talks about how we treat sleep apnea with a custom sleep appliance.
Chronic Snoring and Sleep Apnea
When you snore on a nightly basis, this could drive your significant other and negatively impact their sleep. But this could also be a common warning sign of a serious sleep disorder. With OSA, you actually stop breathing multiple times a night as soft tissues in the back of the mouth and in your throat collapse and cut off airflow. The brain registers the lack of oxygen and wakes you to resume breathing. You may not remember this happening, but it can interrupt your sleep cycle hundreds of times in one night, leaving your exhausted. Factors behind this disorder vary, but include obesity, large neck circumference, sinus and allergy issues, deviated septum, or issues with the growth and development of your oral structures. Men 55 and older are at a higher risk, but this can impact people of all ages.
The Warning Signs and Dangers
Warning signs include snoring, as we focused on above, along with daytime drowsiness, headaches, dry mouth, trouble focusing, and waking up in the night choking or gasping for air. Without treatment, this could impact your quality of life and stress your immune system, so more frequent illness is possible. The disorder also places stress on your cardiovascular system so the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, and even stroke and heart attack can increase with time. When you experience these warning signs, let us know right away!
Treatment with a Sleep Apnea
Our team can often bring relief with a simple sleep appliance, an oral appliance that looks and fits like a mouthguard. The device is designed and custom-fitted based on detailed digital images we take of your smile. When worn, the device moves the tongue and jaw forward to prevent the collapse of soft tissues, so you sleep without interruption and feel more rested and relaxed the next day. This offers a noninvasive alternative to the loud and cumbersome CPAP machine. If you have any questions about how we diagnose and treat issues like sleep apnea and chronic snoring, then contact our team today to learn more. We look forward to helping you enjoy a good night’s rest again!
Your Katy, TX, Dentist Provides Preventive Treatment Options
You shouldn’t struggle through your day with exhaustion from OSA. For more information on treating sleep issues with a custom and comfortable sleep appliance, then call Lathrop Dental Center in Katy, TX at 832-437-3849 to schedule a visit.
