Why You Need to Treat Sleep Apnea

Does loud snoring keep you awake at night? Do you or your partner snore loudly while asleep? Do you wake up almost every morning with a headache or feeling more tired than when you went to bed?

Loud snoring, chronic fatigue, and headaches are common symptoms of a condition known as obstructive sleep apnea. OSA is a progressive condition that can trigger the development of secondary oral and systemic health complications.

If you or your partner shows signs of sleep apnea, it is important to notify your dentist or doctor as soon as possible. Seeking treatment can help you improve your health, focus, and mood.

Sleep apnea is a condition that occurs when the soft oral tissues collapse at the back of the throat and block normal oxygen flow. Sleep apnea deprives the body and brain of the oxygen they need to function properly. Patients with sleep apnea commonly wake repeatedly throughout the night, gasping for air or snoring loudly while asleep.

What Are the Symptoms of Sleep Apnea?

The symptoms of sleep apnea can be both mild and severe. You may only have one or two, and they may not be ones that you would associate with sleep apnea. The symptoms include:

• Snoring
• Waking up in the middle of the night, gasping for air
• Headaches, especially right when you wake up
• Feeling fatigued, even when you thought you got a full night's sleep
• Having a sore or dry throat when you wake up
• Struggling to stay awake while driving
• Moodiness and irritability

These symptoms accumulate and lead to a decreased quality of life. It's necessary for you to get sleep for your body to reset and recharge. You may notice changes not only physically, but also emotionally and mentally.

Why Is it Necessary to Treat Sleep Apnea?

You may not think that this is a big issue that requires treatment. Having restless sleep isn't a big deal, right? Wrong. Sleep apnea is a serious medical condition and can contribute to more serious medical conditions the longer it goes untreated.

People who suffer from sleep apnea have a higher risk of conditions such as stroke, diabetes, heart problems, high blood pressure, and depression. There's an even higher risk of an earlier death. Depriving your brain of oxygen means that it reacts with a panic response. This puts extra duress on your brain and can cause permanent damage if it continues to happen.

Sleep Apnea Treatment

To treat this condition, we focus on oral appliance therapy. Compared to a CPAP machine, this form of therapy is a lot more comfortable and easier to sleep with. You also don't have to worry about dragging your machine everywhere when you travel. An oral appliance for sleep apnea is similar to a sports mouthguard.

This specially-fitted appliance puts your jaw in the correct position while you're sleeping. This keeps the tissue in the back of your throat open and prevents it from blocking your airway. It's a simple fix that gives you your quality of life back.

Treat Your Sleep Apnea at Double A Dental Group

We provide patients with oral sleep appliance therapy for treating sleep apnea. Oral sleep appliance therapy is more discreet and comfortable than a traditional CPAP machine. The appliance is similar to a sports mouth guard and is custom-designed to fit securely and comfortably around your jaw.

The oral sleep appliance helps to properly align the jaw while sleeping, preventing soft tissue from collapsing over the airway. The oral appliance can help patients breathe all night comfortably so that they wake up feeling refreshed. Patients who wear the oral sleep appliance experience relief from painful headaches caused by oxygen deprivation associated with OSA.