Your dental health can indeed impact your sleep, and vice versa! If you suffer from fatigue and chronic snoring, you might have sleep apnea, a condition that affects 18 million Americans. Middletown Commons Family Dental wants you to be aware of the common signs and symptoms of sleep apnea, along with treatment options that can get you the relief you need.

What Is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that disrupts your breathing pattern while you sleep. You may suffer from periods where your breathing completely stops or is very shallow for a few minutes at a time. There are two types of sleep apnea. The most common is called obstructive, which occurs when the muscles in the back of your throat relax. The more severe form is called central sleep apnea. This form of the condition occurs when your brain is not sending the right signals to the muscles that control your breathing as you sleep.

Signs of Symptoms of Sleep Apnea

Here are some of the common signs and symptoms of sleep apnea.

• Extreme fatigue during the day
• Waking up frequently at night
• Loud, chronic snoring
• Frequent headaches
• Persistent dry mouth
• Bad breath (halitosis)
• Insomnia

Because sleep apnea is disruptive to your sleep cycle, it can wreak havoc on your overall health and cause more extreme health issues down the line, like diabetes and liver disease. It can also lead to dental issues, like decay and even tooth loss.

Treatment for Sleep Apnea

There are a couple of ways to treat obstructive sleep apnea: CPAP therapy and oral appliance therapy. CPAP therapy uses a breathing machine to help push air into the patient’s lungs as they sleep, ensuring that they take nice, consistent breaths. It can be uncomfortable at first to wear the CPAP mask, and side effects include sore throat, abdominal bloating and facial irritation. Oral appliance therapy uses an oral device that looks like an athletic mouthguard to help reposition your mouth as you sleep. This will reduce obstruction in your airways and allow you to breathe normally at night.

How to Prevent Sleep Apnea

There are a few ways that you can prevent or lessen the symptoms of sleep apnea, which include weight loss, reduction of alcohol consumption, sleeping on your side or with your head slightly elevated, and exercising more.

Sleep Apnea Treatment in Louisville, KY

If you are looking for relief from your sleep apnea, we’d love to help. Please contact our office at 502-631-9627 or click the link below to fill out the online form. If you’re new to Middletown Commons Family Dental, visit our first visit page to learn more about what to expect during your time with us and learn more about our affordable financing options.