O’Fallon Sleep Apnea Dentist Talks About Daily Signs of Sleep Apnea

Written by Dr. Brace on Jul 25, 2014

O’Fallon Sleep Apnea Dentist Talks About Daily Signs of Sleep Apnea

When you think about it, a good, healthy night’s sleep serves as a strong foundation for your daily routine. When you don’t get the sleep you need, you just don’t feel quite like yourself.

Sleep apnea, which blocks the patient’s airflow as he or she sleeps, prevents the patient from getting a healthy amount of sleep. This is because sleep apnea disrupts the patient’s natural REM cycle.

Our O’Fallon sleep apnea dentist office wants to help you spot signs of sleep apnea as soon as they pop up. So here are some sleep apnea red flags that you may notice during the day. If you experience these issues, contact a health professional for a sleep apnea evaluation.

So as you would imagine, one of the key problems that sleep apnea causes is daytime fatigue. Sleep apnea patients often find themselves nodding off during the day, and they might have problems stay alert and active throughout the day.

Another problem that many sleep apnea suffers experience is chronic headaches. These headaches are most likely to emerge in the morning and at night, but they can really happen any time. Some sleep-apnea headaches occur because of lack of sleep, but muscle tension and stress can also play a role.

Sleep apnea suffers are also likely to experience TMJ problems as well as dental grinding (called bruxism). So if you are having jaw tension, stiffness, or popping during the day, make sure to speak to your dentist. And stay alert in case you are unconsciously grinding your teeth together during the day (you may also be doing this at night).

Effective sleep apnea treatment will allow you to regain your healthy sleep patterns and minimize long-term sleep apnea problems. Our O’Fallon sleep apnea dentist office has the information and treatment options that you need—give us a call!