If you have trouble sleeping through the night, you might have a fairly common sleep disorder called obstructive sleep apnea. You may be surprised to learn that our dentists at Hillstream Dental offer sleep apnea treatment to help you get a better night’s sleep.
What Is Sleep Apnea?
Apnea is defined as a temporary cessation of breathing. Therefore, sleep apnea is a cessation of breathing during sleep. There are several ways that breathing can be disrupted during sleep. With obstructive sleep apnea, the muscles in the back of the throat relax, thereby restricting or even blocking the flow of air. When breathing is disrupted during sleep, your brain briefly wakes you from your sleep so you’ll remember to breathe. This can happen numerous times an hour and hundreds of times during the night. Usually you don’t remember the awakenings because of their brevity, but your ability to experience deep, restful sleep is seriously impaired.
What Are the Symptoms?
Though the following signs are not always associated with sleep apnea, it’s best to still be evaluated because a chronic lack of rejuvenating sleep is hazardous to your health:
Loud snoring
Gasping for air during sleep
Waking up with a dry mouth and/or headache
Night-time sweating
Daytime drowsiness
Irritability
Difficulty staying focused
What Are the Risk Factors?
People who are overweight and/or who have large necks are more at risk for sleep apnea. It also runs in families. Narrow airways, either inherited or caused by enlarged tonsils, adenoids, or allergies, can inhibit breathing. The disorder is more common in men, older adults, and menopausal women. Alcohol, sedatives, certain drugs, and smoking can contribute to or worsen obstructive sleep apnea.
Sleep Apnea Treatment at Hillstream Dental
Our team is ready to help you get a better night’s sleep. We can create a custom oral appliance you wear at night, which will open your airways while you sleep. Don’t delay–call for a consultation today, especially if you have been told you snore loudly while sleeping.
If you have trouble sleeping through the night, you might have a fairly common sleep disorder called obstructive sleep apnea. You may be surprised to learn that our dentists at Hillstream Dental offer sleep apnea treatment to help you get a better night’s sleep.
