Most of the warnings you receive from your dentist may be about improving your hygiene habits, or refraining from the candy you continue to indulge on. Others, however, may surprise you, such as a warning not to ignore your habit of snoring, or the more dangerous condition that it could indicate—sleep apnea. Nevertheless, the mechanisms that lead to snoring and sleep apnea often originate with your oral tissues, and your dentist’s office may be the best place for you to find a way to stop.
Snoring and Sleep Apnea Facts
- The sound known as snoring is the sound generated when oral tissues partially block your airway. Like the air escaping from slowly deflating balloon, your breath becomes strained when forced through the narrower airway, and pressure causes the walls in your throat to vibrate loudly.
- Left untreated, some cases of snoring can eventually lead to health issues due to a prolonged decrease in oxygen, and the strain your body has to go through to get it.
- In severe instances, snoring can be an indication of the sleep disorder, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which occurs when oral tissues completely block your airway. After several moments of not breathing, your brain will force your body awake to breathe again, but not enough to rouse you from consciousness.
- Marked by extremely loud periods of snoring followed by moments of silence, OSA cycles can occur hundreds of times a night. Though you may not be aware of it, the constant interruptions can prevent you from entering the deep stages of sleep that allow your mind and body to rest properly.
- We may be able to help you stop snoring and treat sleep apnea with a custom-made sleepguard designed to position your jaw more comfortably, preventing oral tissues from collapsing into your airway.
ABOUT YOUR GARLAND DENTISTS:
At DentaCare Dental in Garland, we focus on advanced technology, education, and comfort to offer every patient a pleasant experience and excellent dental care. To schedule a consultation, call our Garland, TX office today at (903) 758-5921. For optimal convenience, we also serve patients at our various other locations in Tyler, Longview, and Arlington, TX, as well as Bossier City, LA.