Our O’Fallon dentists know that the more informed our patients are, the better they can spot dental problems in their own lives. Ultimately, this leads to patients getting necessary treatment faster, and avoiding many long-term problems. So today our dentists have compiled this short explanation of sleep apnea symptoms to help you.
As you may already know, sleep apnea is characterized by oxygen intake disruption during sleep. Basically, if you have obstructive sleep apnea, your airways become blocked when your oral tissues relax at night. This causes your body to suffer from oxygen depletion.
Consequently, sleep apnea leads to a number of unfavorable symptoms for patients. Take a look at this list and see if any of these problems may apply to you:
· Loud and disruptive snoring—when your airways are blocked, your body will struggle to get oxygen. Consequently, you may snore so severely that you wake yourself, or wake other people.
· Headaches—lack of sleep as well as dental grinding (which often accompanies sleep apnea) leads to fatigue and stress headaches.
· Fatigue and sleepiness—because sleep apnea disturbs healthy REM cycles, you will probably notice that you feel tired and sleepy throughout the day. Adequate sleep, with complete REM cycles, is crucial for feeling fresh and revitalized during the day.
· Dry mouth—many sleep apnea patients wake up with their mouths feeling dry and rough. This can actually contribute to bad breath, as saliva is a natural bacteria neutralizer and breath freshener.
If you think that you, or someone you know, may be experiencing sleep apnea problems, take the time to get checked out by a professional. There are treatment options that will allow you to regain a healthy, restful night’s sleep. Call our O’Fallon sleep apnea dentist office to get started on your way to health!