Everybody needs a good night’s rest. Waking up on the wrong side of the bed can spoil your entire day, as sometimes it’s hard to shake that crabby mood. You go to work cranky, and things only snowball from there and get worse and worse.
If you’re snoring at night and waking up tired, it doesn’t necessarily mean there’s an underlying health condition. But these symptoms often point to sleep apnea, a condition where the upper passage of your airway is at least partially blocked. Don’t just think of snoring as a sound people occasionally produce during sleep, but as something which might tip-off that there’s a health concern.
Sleep apnea results in loud snoring overnight because you are deprived of oxygen until the morning when you wake up. Sometimes people’s partners may have to sleep in another room if the snoring gets so bad that their sleep is affected.
People may joke about loud snoring, but disturbing sleep sounds that prevent you from getting ample rest is a health problem on its own. Plus, it could suggest you have sleep apnea, which needs to be addressed because it can potentially cause other problems.
The good news is that we can help with sleep apnea today, so you can rest easier and quietly.
Put Snoring to Bed
You might not wake up when you begin to snore, but your rest will be affected if the upper passageway of your airway is blocked. More likely, your snoring will affect the rest of the person sleeping beside you! Good health depends on good rest, so it’s important to address conditions which affect our sleep, like sleep apnea.
Estimates say that about 40% of adults over the age of 40 snore, so no matter how loud you snore, take comfort in knowing that you’re not the only one. Sleep apnea can increase the risk of things like strokes, heart attacks, and hypertension.
If you know you’re a snorer, don’t panic. It doesn’t necessarily mean you have sleep apnea. Even if you do, it doesn’t mean there’s a negative health outcome around the corner. It can be diagnosed and treated successfully.
But the safest thing you can do is stop by Dentistry on 7th to get it checked out.
Doesn’t Necessarily Require Surgery
Thankfully, many treatments for sleep apnea don’t require invasive surgery or even surgery at all. Dentistry on 7th has custom-fitted mouth appliances and custom sports mouthguards which are effective in 90% of cases.
Mouth appliances work simply and effectively. Just put it in before you go to sleep, and the mouth appliance aligns the jaw properly, preventing the airway from collapsing. The mouth appliance repositions the jaw slightly, so you won’t feel a shift while you sleep. All you’ll feel is well-rested!
It’s wise to treat sleep apnea in the early stages before it gets worse or causes permanent damage. While the odds are extremely low, sleep apnea can increase the risk of potentially fatal conditions.
Surgery is a more involved and complex solution, and Continuous Positive Airflow Pressure (CPAP) machine, but they’re a little more intrusive.
Other Ways a Poor Night’s Sleep Harms Your Oral Health
A person’s oral health can predict their overall health in ways that may be surprising. If you are deprived of oxygen while you sleep, your body can’t properly do the overnight repair work it usually does during deep stages of sleep.
Snoring and a pause in breathing can impact oxygen flow to the brain tissue overnight. Poor breathing during sleep can also deprive the rest of the body of much-needed oxygen.
While there is a sleep apnea test that determines conclusively whether snoring is caused by sleep apnea or something else, a dentist is often able to tell just by examining. Here are a few of the signs dentists look for:
- Tongue scalloping
- Cheek biting
- Crooked teeth
- Teeth sensitivity
- Dry mouth in the morning
- Crooked teeth
If you aren’t sure whether your nighttime snoring is caused by sleep apnea, schedule an appointment with us soon, and we’ll take a look.
How Does a CPAP Machine Work?
If you have sleep apnea, you may need a Continuous Positive Airflow Pressure (CPAP) machine. A CPAP machine treats moderate to severe sleep apnea by covering your mouth and nose and supplying a line of oxygen to keep your airways open while you sleep.
They come in different sizes, and some are quieter than others. The main thing is that they’re effective. If you have any questions at all about CPAP machines or anything else to do with sleep apnea, don’t hesitate to reach out!
Call us at 905-963-3693 if you have any questions about CPAP machines, sleep apnea, or any other concerns about oral health.
World-Class Dentist in Hamilton
The Dentistry on 7th team is proudly led by the highly-decorated Dr. Sarna. After finishing his Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), he served as Preceptor in the AEGD clinic.
Dr. Sarna also earned Fellowships with the International Congress of Oral Implantologists, the International Association for Orthodontics, and the Academy of General Dentistry. Feel confident that when you visit Dentistry on 7th you’ll be in great hands.
If you or your partner are snoring loudly, don’t just quietly endure this loud problem. Snoring isn’t just something to joke or tease about, either. It could indicate a considerable underlying health issue, so visit an experienced dentist in Hamilton and get it looked at right away.
Remember, your snoring can cause sleeping problems for your partner too, which potentially leads to other health problems. Whether you need a custom-fitted mouth appliance or a CPAP machine, the team led by Dr. Sarna will get you back to having a good night’s sleep. You and yours will rest better and quieter.
Make a dental appointment today for a standard checkup or to get your sleep apnea looked at, and your oral health and overall health will improve now and in the future.