Living with sleep apnea can be a miserable experience. Few things are as important to a person’s health as a good night’s sleep. Restful sleep helps refresh the mind and restore the body, ensuring individuals have the energy and focus to power through the next day.
Unfortunately, millions of people experience symptoms of sleep apnea, which makes it difficult for them to sleep properly
Obstructive sleep apnea is a serious and sometimes life-threatening condition in which a person stops breathing for about 10 seconds or longer while sleeping. These repeated breathing interruptions can occur 30 or more times in an hour. Gasping for breath can cause the patient to wake up several times during the night, which diminishes the quality of their sleep. Sleep apnea may also increase a patient’s risk of suffering from diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity and heart disease. Some of the reasons why these breathing pauses happen include:
The most common indicator of sleep apnea is chronic snoring due to airway obstruction. Other symptoms include daytime drowsiness and morning headaches.
However, not all sleep apnea symptoms are as obvious or audible as snoring. This is where a qualified dentist comes in. A dentist can examine a patient’s mouth, teeth, jaw and throat to determine if there are any obstructions in the person's airways.
One of the signs a dentist looks out for is teeth grinding, or bruxism. People who suffer from sleep apnea may have tooth surfaces that are worn out, which is a sign that they grind their teeth a lot. This can result in breakage or even inflamed and receding gums. A sudden spike in cavities is also a sign of bruxism, as the force exerts a great deal of pressure on teeth, damaging them and making them more susceptible to bacteria that cause cavities.
The dentist may also look for redness in the throat as a result of constant snoring. Other symptoms include a small jaw, dry mouth due to open mouth breathing and a tongue that has scalloped edges.
Sleep apnea can be a very silent condition, as most patients do not remember waking up constantly during the night. However, a qualified dentist can help manage sleep apnea with the help of dental appliances and behavioral modification.
When a dentist suspects that a patient suffers from sleep apnea, they may recommend a sleep study conducted by a medical doctor. If the doctor makes an official diagnosis, the dentist may recommend a dental appliance for sleep apnea. This appliance resembles an athletic mouth guard and helps reposition the tongue and jaw for better airflow.
If the sleep apnea is severe, the patient may need to get a continuous positive airway pressure system (CPAC), which helps deliver air through a small mask and applies pressure to keep the airway open.
The dentist may also help treat other dental problems that lead to sleep apnea. If the bruxism associated with sleep apnea has caused periodontal issues and chipped teeth, the dentist can help treat these issues.
Do you have any of the symptoms of sleep apnea? Contact one of our dentists so they can examine your teeth, mouth, throat, and jaw and recommend treatment options that will help you sleep better.
How can you really use this information?
Request a dental appointment here: https://brimhalldentalgroup.com or call Brimhall Dental Group at (661) 249-1122 for an appointment in our Bakersfield dental office.
Are you looking for CPAP alternatives to treat your sleep apnea? Obstructive sleep apnea is a common condition that impacts millions of individuals all across the globe. Due to this condition, the patient’s airway closes while they are asleep. This can lead to symptoms like difficulty staying asleep throughout the night, snoring, morning headaches, and…
Sleep apnea is a fairly common medical condition that affects millions of Americans every day and, in some cases, can have life-threatening side effects. To get the right kind of help for your apnea, it first helps to understand the causes of this sleep condition, what the different causes mean for treatment, and how you…
Seeking treatment for sleep apnea is important for your general health. Your general dentist can detect signs of this sleep disorder during a comprehensive dental exam. The sleep doctor can work with your dentist to correct the problem. Here are the details about when to see a dentist for sleep apnea.This sleep disorder makes a…
Snoring is not the only sign of sleep apnea. It is a significant sleep condition that may have a negative impact on your health and quality of life in a short amount of time. Aside from feeling tired and drowsy throughout the day, untreated sleep apnea makes you vulnerable to different major health problems, including…
The best cleaning solution for denture care varies from person to person. Using a toothbrush and water is not enough to clean dentures completely. This can lead to plaque buildup on your dentures, especially in the crevices of the mouth. To avoid this problem, dentists recommend using dental solutions specifically designed to clean dentures. Denture…
Most people develop a cavity at some point in their lives, but children are especially prone to tooth decay. Dental sealants can be used to help lower the risk of getting cavities, protecting a child's teeth for many years. This supplemental treatment offers many benefits and is recommended by most dentists for virtually all children…