Sleep Apnea Problems Explained By Our O’Fallon Sleep Apnea Dentists
Our O’Fallon sleep apnea dentists are here to help people overcome sleep apnea symptoms, and set up healthy sleep habits that work for them. If you are unaware of what sleep apnea is, or how it can affect your daily life and overall health, then this article is for you. Today our dentist is walking you through some of issues that we commonly see associated with sleep apnea. Let’s get started!
Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the patient’s airway becomes blocked by relaxed oral tissues. These oral tissues make it difficult for the patient to inhale adequate amount of oxygen during sleep.
In the short term, obstructive sleep apnea can lead to issues such as:
Disruptive snoring—snoring is essentially the sound of the patient trying to force air over his or her airway obstruction. This snoring can be so loud that it wakes up the sleep apnea patient and/or his or her sleeping partner.
Dry mouth—as the patient attempts to breathe in enough oxygen during the night, his or her mouth stays open for long stretches at a time. This leads to dry mouth, which can in turn increase the patient’s risk for bad breath, cavities, and gum disease.
Headaches/fatigue—because the sleep apnea patient is not getting enough oxygen, his or her natural, healthy REM cycle is disrupted repeatedly during the night. This is why it is so common for sleep apnea patients to feel tired all of the time, deal with headaches and suffer from concentration and memory problems.
These are just a few of the problems that can result from long-term, untreated sleep apnea. The good news is that our dental team can help you avoid and mitigate these issues with innovative sleep apnea treatment options. Please feel free to contact our O’Fallon dentists when you are ready to learn more or schedule a consultation!