Do you experience regular headaches? What about dry mouth during the night? You may think that these problems are unavoidable byproducts of everyday life, but the truth is these issues could be signs of sleep apnea disorder. Many patients suffer from obstructive sleep apnea for years before they get a proper diagnosis. Our O’Fallon sleep apnea dentist office works to empower people to notice and seek treatment for sleep apnea problems.
So what can you, as a dental patient, do to identify sleep apnea in its earliest stages?
The first thing you need to do is to know the common symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea. You may experience any number of these problems:
· Frequent headaches, especially in the morning when you wake up
· Dry throat and mouth when you wake up in the morning
· Loud and frequent snoring—this is a sign that you airway is blocked
· Frequent waking in the night
· Feelings of fatigue and sleepiness during the day
Once you are familiar with these sleep apnea symptoms, take special care to note if you experience any of them, and how often you notice them. If your spouse tells you that you have been snoring every night, for example, write this down—this is important information to share with your dentist.
When you meet with your doctor or dentist, share your concerns about sleep apnea. Provide them with the information you have gathered about your commonly experienced symptoms. This will help you dentist gauge how severe your sleep apnea symptoms are.
Your dentist can recommend some ameliorative therapies that will ease your sleep apnea symptoms. Our O’Fallon sleep apnea dentist further treats the root cause of sleep apnea with simple nighttime mouth guards.
Get the care you need when you need it—call our O’Fallon dentist office to schedule your consultation today.