When your nights aren’t as restful as they should be, your quality of life, relationships, and work all suffer. Sleep apnea can be a troubling condition to have – and not just for you. Your significant other or family members may also be kept up all night due to your snoring. Worse, it can negatively impact your ability to get a good night’s sleep and stay awake, focused, and productive during the day.
Sleep Apnea Symptoms
When you suffer from sleep apnea, you may notice that you’re still tired after waking, even after a full night’s sleep. That’s because you’re not getting as much sleep as you think. When you have sleep apnea, your throat muscles collapse while you’re dozing, narrowing your airway and waking you up (though you may not realize it’s happening) sometimes dozens to hundreds of times through the night. Other symptoms include:
- Snoring
- Gasping, choking sounds
- Feeling tired even on waking
- Irritability
- Reduced attention span and memory
- Headaches
- Dry mouth
Over time, these symptoms can affect not just your physical and mental wellbeing, but dry mouth in particular can have terrible effects on your dental health. Dry mouth results in reduced saliva, which is important for keeping your teeth and gums healthy. Without it, bacteria can flourish and cause further (painful) problems, like gum disease.
Contact My Family Dentistry – we’ll help you sleep better at night.
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Will Losing Weight Cure My Sleep Apnea?
While looking for a way to alleviate the symptoms, you might ask yourself, “will losing weight cure my sleep apnea?” Extra weight or a high body mass index isn’t necessarily a sure indicator, but it is a common factor for many patients. Losing weight may help reduce the occurrence of throat tissue collapse or stop your sleep apnea altogether — however, there is no guarantee.
The fact is, sleep apnea is a common condition that can affect just about anyone, regardless of their weight. Luckily, you may be able to find a different solution to this issue at your local dentist’s office.
Sleep Apnea Devices
Sleep apnea devices generally come in two types. The first moves the tongue forward while the second repositions the jaw. This enables you to sleep more soundly and breathe more easily through the night, so you aren’t waking constantly or keeping your loved ones up with your snoring.
At My Family Dentistry, we offer a sleep apnea treatment to help you rest better and protect your dental health. The custom-fitted Dental Crafter’s Intraoral Snoring Therapy (IST) Appliance moves your jaw further forward with a 2-piece acrylic arch system. You’re still able to comfortably move your jaw, so you (and your family) can get a more restful night’s sleep.
To learn more about our services and find out how our sleep apnea devices are made, contact us today.
