Do you Suffer From Sleep Apnea?

Do you snore? Your dentist may be an unlikely solution to your problem! Proper sleep is so important for your body. The quality of your sleep can affect your body’s ability to heal itself.

This rest period is vital for your overall health and well-being. Your mind has an opportunity to process and organize new data and clear excess information, your organs have a chance to restore themselves, and your immune system can repair your body uninterrupted. However, if you’ve been snoring, it’s a sign that your body isn’t getting the deep sleep it needs to facilitate this deep healing. Snoring is the alarm for sleep apnea when your body stops breathing while it’s sleeping for short periods of time. There are three reasons this could occur:

1. Central Sleep Apnea happens when your brain doesn’t tell the respiratory system to breathe;
2. Obstructive Sleep Apnea is a physical block, typically tongue and throat tissue, in your airway that causes lapses in breathing; and
3. Mixed or Complex Sleep Apnea is a combination of the previous two. Not only is your brain not communicating that it should breathe, but it can’t because there’s something in the way.

Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common type, and any of the three is a serious issue. If you hear someone you care about snoring, it can cause fear, knowing they’re having difficulty breathing. The signs of sleep apnea are noticeable. The sooner the sleeper becomes aware that their rest is being disturbed, the sooner they can reach out for treatment from this Novato dentist for help! Here are the most common signs of sleep apnea:

Loud Snoring

Sleep apnea snoring is different than common snoring in that it’s often so erratic and loud that it wakes others up from their slumber. If you are being woken up by someone else’s snoring, or if you are waking others up, this is a huge sign. Many people snore when they have a cold, but if this snoring occurs nightly (chronic), or is massively disruptive, take note.

Breaks in Breathing

If you witness, or hear, someone’s breathing halt and then restart, it can sound like they are choking in their sleep. It’s time to reach out for treatment if this occurs several times throughout the night.

Not Feeling Rested

Those with sleep apnea may not realize they are not getting sleeping peacefully. They may feel tired and lethargic, despite having been in bed the entire night. This can progress into waking up frequently throughout the night or insomnia. Those who are not sleeping well throughout the night can be more prone to mood swings or irritability or have a lack of concentration.

Headaches

Waking up with a headache can be a sign that you didn’t receive a restful night’s sleep. Temporomandibular joint disorder can be another cause of headaches. This can be attributed to stress, genetics, arthritis, etc. This is another issue that your Novato dentist can address during your next appointment.

Sore Throat or Dry Mouth or Chapped Lips

If you or someone you care about has frequent sore throats, dry mouth, or chapped lips, they may be breathing through their mouth too often. These symptoms are all linked to not breathing well throughout the night. By breathing through their mouth, they are drying out the saliva in their mouth, compared to if they were breathing gracefully through their nose. None of these on its own is worrisome, but if you notice chronic symptoms like these, it may be time to seek treatment for sleep apnea. 

Treatment

You don’t have to suffer from a lack of sleep, nor do you have to prevent others from sleeping. San Marin Dental Care provides master quality gentle dental care, and has solutions for sleep apnea! Give us a call at (415) 209-6060 to schedule an appointment or request an appointment here. We would love to see you!