What Causes Snoring?
With the National Sleep Foundation estimates that up to half of the U.S. population snores, it might not seem like something worth mentioning to a doctor, let alone a dentist. However, snoring happens when the airway is obstructed during sleep, whether by the tongue or the soft tissues in the mouth. In many cases, snoring can be a symptom of sleep apnea, which has various adverse effects on the body that can range from fatigue to cardiovascular problems.
What Does Snoring Have To Do With My Teeth?
A snoring habit is often paired with mouth breathing, which leaves the mouth dry and more vulnerable to the bacteria responsible for tooth decay, gum disease, and bad breath. Snoring doesn’t always mean sleep apnea, but when it does, an oral appliance can help keep the airway open to facilitate healthier, more restful (and quieter) sleep.
You might be surprised to learn that the dentist is one of the best people to help with snoring-related issues. If you or someone in your household snores regularly, give us a call at 252.590.5601 to schedule an appointment so that Dr. Myers can see the impact it’s having on the snorer’s dental health and arrange a test for sleep apnea.
What Is Sleep Apnea?
Do you or your partner snore loudly or wake up suddenly- gasping for air?
Obstructive sleep apnea remains a widely underdiagnosed condition in the United States. A growing health concern, sleep apnea is a chronic and progressive sleep-related disorder that has been scientifically linked to serious medical conditions. To prevent the development of risk factors associated with sleep apnea, patients are encouraged to seek help as soon as possible. Sleep apnea can detrimentally impact your overall health and your oral health when left untreated.
Snoring and chronic sleepiness are conditions and indications that something could be seriously wrong with a person’s breathing during sleep. It’s indicative of an airway that is not completely open while sleeping. Snoring comes from air pressure within the body being forced through a narrow passageway. It’s a sign of a potentially dangerous sleep disorder called sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea occurs when the airway is blocked by collapsed soft tissues at the back of the throat, causing patients to wake up with a loud snore or gasping for air up to 500 times a night. Patients wake suddenly due to a lack of oxygen flow to their body, triggered by a momentary cessation of normal breathing due to the blocked airway. Interrupted sleep can interfere with a patient’s quality of life. Patients may feel chronically fatigued, experience headaches, or feel like it is hard to focus on tasks.
Many patients have no memory of waking during their sleep, and it may be difficult for patients to notice that they are experiencing obstructive sleep apnea. Be sure to read the risk factors and symptoms of OSA so that you can experience any changes in your sleep patterns. In the long term, sleep apnea can begin to deteriorate your overall health and impact your daily quality of life. Sleep apnea has been linked to an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, cardiovascular disease, and even sudden death. If you are concerned that you are at risk for sleep apnea or experience any of the common symptoms, discuss your concerns with Dr. Myers- it could be life-saving.
Risk Factors of Sleep Apnea
If any of these sleep apnea risk factors apply to you, let us know as soon as possible. A simple, non-invasive sleep study can determine if you have OSA and could help you find the treatment you need to protect your health. Dr. Myers can work with you to coordinate care with your general physician.
- Patients over 40
- Large neck diameter
- Family history of OSA
- Diabetes
- Male
- Obesity
All patients are at risk of developing sleep apnea. However, certain demographics are at a higher risk. Knowing your risk factors and the symptoms of sleep apnea can help patients receive treatment before developing secondary health issues.
Symptoms of Sleep Apnea
If you experience any of these symptoms or notice changes in the way you feel when you wake up on a regular basis, let Dr. Myers know. While snoring does not always indicate OSA, many patients who snore do have sleep apnea.
- Chronic headaches(especially in the morning)
- Waking gasping for air
- Loud snoring
- Chronic fatigue
- Depression
- Trouble concentrating
Treating Sleep Apnea in Emerald Isle
Here at Emerald Isle Smiles, we treat sleep apnea. Sleep apnea requires careful attention and treatment because it’s potentially a life-threatening condition. When an air passage collapses during sleep, it can cause complete or partial blockage of the airway, which interrupts sleep patterns. Symptoms of sleep apnea can include drowsiness during the day, weight gain, sexual dysfunction, and depression. If sleep apnea isleft untreated, it can result in high blood pressure, heart failure, heart attack, and possibly stroke. Other conditions that can arise from sleep apnea include eye problems like glaucoma, complications with medications and surgery, morning headaches, mood swings, memory problems, and nocturia (the need to urinate frequently at night).
Don’t be alarmed if you have found sleep apnea to be a problem for you. This condition affects millions of Americans. Here at Emerald Isle Smiles, it’s our goal to be able to treat every patient who is troubled by this condition. Dr. Myers focuses on non-invasive procedures that can treat the condition before suggesting surgery.
Emerald Isle dentist Dr. Aubrey Myers offers personalized consultations and screenings for sleep apnea. A highly trained and experienced dentist, Dr. Myers works closely with your physician or a sleep specialist to achieve an accurate diagnosis and help you receive appropriate treatment for sleep apnea. Patients can often undergo a sleep study test that can usually be performed in the comfort of their own homes. The sleep study will chart your sleep patterns for a better understanding of your condition.
Treatment options vary depending on the cause of your sleep apnea. Oral sleep appliances are an alternative to the CPAP for many patients with mild to moderate sleep apnea. They are a common solution to help keep the airway open while sleeping. The custom-fit dental appliance is much like a sports mouthguard and is designed to realign the jaw during sleep.
Schedule A Consultation
If you suspect you or your partner may have sleep apnea, contact our Emerald Isle, NC, dentist’s office to learn more about how we can help you get a better night’s rest. You can call our office, or request an appointment online. We welcome new and returning patients from Cedar Point, Cape Carteret, Bogue, Emerald Isle and surrounding communities.