What Sleep Apnea Really Means for Your Oral Health

Angry woman closing her ears with pillow, hiding from her husband's snoring, panorama, top viewWhen thinking about the negative effects of dental issues, one topic individuals do not think of immediately is Sleep Apnea. This disorder occurs when you are unconscious, and consists of your breathing repeatedly stopping and starting, often causing you to snore loudly and excessively. It can take the form of Obstructive (OSA), which occurs when the throat muscles relax, Central (CSA), caused by your brain failing to send proper signals to the muscles that control your breathing, and Complex or treatment-emergent, which is when you have both CSA and OSA. Fortunately, the dentists at Cleveland Family Dentistry in Cleveland, Texas can provide you with information and resources to help you better understand the condition and its effects.

Symptoms of Sleep Apnea

If you have experienced loud snoring and/or tiredness or fatigue after a full night’s rest, chances are you may be experiencing sleep apnea. Other symptoms can include gasping for air while you rest, periods of time during the night where you stop breathing, insomnia, awakening with a dry mouth, morning headaches, and daytime irritability. If you are showing signs of the above-mentioned symptoms, contact your dentist immediately.

It Affects your Energy and Fatigue

Due to a restless night, you may wake up tired or exhausted and experience this feeling throughout the day. You may even feel excessive tiredness, a condition referred to as hypersomnia, and difficulty paying attention. While you may have gotten a full night’s rest, your body is working to attempt to regulate your breathing, and thus exhaustion sets in. Not only does it affect your energy, but your overall functionality and productiveness. While it may not constitute emergency care, it can become treatment-emergent.

It Could Have Other Meanings

Sleep Apnea and difficulty breathing throughout the night can be indicative of other problems or contributing factors that affect your overall health. For example, risk factors for OSA or CSA can include excess weight, nasal congestion, or other medical conditions such as high blood pressure, type II diabetes, hormonal disorders, or even previous chronic lung diseases like asthma. Other factors that increase the risk include family history, use of alcohol, sedatives, tobacco, or even simply having a narrow airway. Contact your dentist to learn more about what can cause OSA or CSA and how you can take steps to prevent it.

Learn How to Manage Your Sleep Apnea

There are multiple risk factors that can lead to Sleep Apnea, and it is important to stay on top of your oral health to ensure those factors are brought down. Severe conditions may require the use of surgery, so it is crucial to know the signs and maintain the condition early on. To learn more about this condition from the Cleveland, Texas Dentists at Cleveland Family Dentistry, you can schedule an appointment by calling (281) 592-1234 to learn more.