O’Fallon Dentist Provides Answers To Questions About Sleep Apnea
More and more people are learning about sleep apnea, and taking proactive steps to minimize the ill-effects of this condition. If you have questions about sleep apnea, our O’Fallon dentists are here to help you! Keep reading to get the answers to some of the commonly asked questions about sleep apnea. And remember, you can always reach out to our dental team to schedule a personalized consultation.
Q: How do I know if I am suffering from sleep apnea?
A: To determine for sure whether or not you are dealing with sleep apnea, you need to meet with a dentist or doctor who can assess your current health status, and perhaps recommend a sleep study. But, until then, there are some key red flags that you may be dealing with sleep apnea. For example, if you notice that you are feeling fatigued during the day, frequently battling headaches, and dealing with memory problems, this can all be due to sleep apnea. There are also some nighttime signs and symptoms: disruptive snoring; waking frequently in the night (you may find yourself choking or gasping as you wake.
Q: Why does sleep apnea happen?
A: Sleep apnea occurs when your oral tissues fall into your airway after you fall asleep. When you fall asleep, your whole body relaxes. Consequently, your relaxed oral tissues make it difficult for your body to get all of the oxygen it needs. Sleep apnea treatments aim to keep your airway open, so that your blood oxygen levels do not drop as you sleep.
Q: I’ve heard about the CPAP machine, but are there other options?
A: CPAP machines can be difficult for patients to live with, and thus these machines have low rates of compliance. For that reason, our dental team provides sleep apnea mouthpieces, which are effective alternatives to the traditional CPAP machine.
If you think that you may be dealing with sleep apnea, our O’Fallon dentists are here to help you reclaim a full and healthy night’s sleep. Let’s get started!