How Your Dentist Can Help Relieve Minor Sleep Apnea
Sleep disorders, including sleep apnea, have become a significant health issue in the United States. According to the American Sleep Apnea Association, it is estimated that 22 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea, with 80 percent of the cases of moderate and severe obstructive sleep apnea still undiagnosed.
When left untreated, sleep apnea can lead to a myriad of problems, such as high blood pressure, chronic heart failure, atrial fibrillation, strokes, and even traffic accidents (due to the persistent drowsiness from the chronic failure of not getting a good night’s sleep).
Is there a difference between snoring and sleep apnea?
The first step to effectively treating these conditions is understanding the differences between sleep apnea and snoring. For all those people across the country who are constantly getting nudged or elbowed throughout the night from annoyed bed partners, it’s important to understand what their snoring could mean.Snoring
Snoring is the result of tissues in the throat relaxing to the point that they partially block the airway. This blockage causes vibration and, ultimately, the sound you hear when someone is snoring. Snoring can be caused due to being overweight, the position of sleep, and even lifestyle factors such as alcohol consumption (as alcohol relaxes your jaw and throat muscles). Snoring once in a while isn’t usually a serious problem, but if you’re a long-term snorer, you may be hindering your quality of sleep.When Snoring Could Mean Sleep Apnea
Loud, frequent snoring is one of the first indicators that you or a partner may have sleep apnea. You will also start to notice pauses in breathing or shallow breaths during sleep. When people with sleep apnea fall asleep, they can stop breathing for 10 seconds or more, even up to a minute! This pattern is often followed by gasping or choking, as the person starts to breathe again. If you or your partner regularly snore loud, stop breathing, gasp or choke during sleep, experience excessive restlessness at night, or feel excessively sleepy during the day, you should definitely address it with your primary care doctor to determine whether a sleep study is necessary.How Your Dentist Can Detect Signs of Sleep Apnea
In addition to loud snoring and gasping for breath, people with sleep apnea typically have the following issues:- Grind their teeth. Your dentist will be able to see excessive wear on the teeth.
- Cracked teeth. The pressure on the teeth by clenching your jaw may also cause cracks on the tooth surfaces.
- Dry mouth or even a sore throat upon waking up.
- Pain in the jaw or teeth.