A Look at Common Signs of Sleep Apnea and How the Dentist Can Help  

Sleep apnea, along with other sleep disorders, is considered one of the biggest health issues in the country. Experts believe there to be about 22 million people who have sleep apnea, and 80 percent of the most severe cases may be underdiagnosed. If you have sleep apnea, it affects the quality of your sleep but can also have a detrimental effect on your overall health.

Signs and Symptoms of Sleep Apnea

Three types of sleep apnea exist: obstructive, central, and complex. However, each type of sleep apnea can have similar symptoms that present themselves:

• Snoring loudly
• Waking up gasping for air or feeling short of breath
• Waking with an extremely dry mouth
• Headaches upon waking
• Stopping breathing during sleep, usually reported by someone sleeping with you
• Nightmares or night terrors
• Feeling tired even though you were in bed for a sufficient amount of time

Talk to Your Doctor About Sleep Apnea to Obtain a Proper Diagnosis

If you do suspect that you have sleep apnea of any form, it is best to discuss your symptoms with your doctor. The physician may recommend a sleep study or other tests to determine if you have sleep apnea and what could be the underlying cause.

How Your Dentist Can Help with Sleep Apnea

If you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea, be sure to talk to your Salina, KS dentist about the problem. The dentist can actually help by creating a custom mouthpiece that can be worn at night while you are asleep to hold your mouth in the proper position for good airflow. In many cases, this mouthpiece can drastically reduce the number of times you are woken through the night, so you get better quality sleep.

Talk to a Salina Dentist About Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a serious condition, and sometimes the most effective treatment can be a combination approach. Reach out to us at the Fine Art of Family Dentistry in Salina, KS to schedule an appointment to discuss our options for patients with sleep apnea.