What To Do About Your Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is one of the most common sleeping disorders, and it can be a serious health risk, but not everyone with sleep apnea knows they’re suffering from it. Many people who snore or have sleep apnea aren’t aware of how severely their condition impacts their quality of life. Oftentimes, sleep apnea goes undiagnosed for years.

Recognizing the early signs and symptoms of sleep apnea–and getting treatment quickly–can reduce your risk of a heart attack or stroke. Not to mention boost your energy throughout the day.

What are the Signs and Symptoms of Sleep Apnea?

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) happens when there is a blockage in the airway. This interrupts breathing and your brain signals the body to wake up so that you can breathe. When you can’t breathe, your heart rate increases, blood pressure rises, and you clench your teeth tightly shut. OSA affects everything from your physical energy level to your mental health.

The most common symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea include warning signs like:

• Fatigue during the day
• Waking up frequently with a dry mouth and sore throat
• Snoring loudly at night
• Difficulty concentrating during the day
• Sore TMJ or teeth
• Bruxism (teeth grinding)
• Weight gain
• Depression or anxiety
• Large neck circumference

 If you have any of these symptoms, it’s important to seek a sleep apnea screening right away. Especially if you have heart disease, high blood pressure, or similar underlying conditions. Even if you only have one or two symptoms, it’s important to rule out anything serious, such as sleep-disordered breathing.

Why Should I Get Treatment for Sleep Apnea?

It’s important to treat sleep apnea because if you don’t, you raise your risk of suffering from a heart attack, stroke, or even a fatal car accident. If you’re unsure whether or not you have a sleeping disorder, you don’t necessarily need to have an overnight study performed in a lab with someone watching you. A take-home sleep test can easily record your sleep patterns, breathing, and pulse oximetry in your bedroom and the data can be interpreted by a medical professional afterward. Torrey Hills Dental can help you screen and test for sleep apnea if you suspect you’re suffering from a sleeping disorder.

Latest in Sleep Apnea Treatments

Conventional sleep apnea treatments rely on C-PAP machines that physically force air into your lungs through pressurized hoses. Unfortunately, these bulky machines can be difficult to travel with, cumbersome to wear at night, and even impact the quality of sleep of other people in your home.

Thankfully, there’s a better alternative: oral sleep appliances.

Sleep apnea mouthpieces treat sleeping disorders at their source: the back of your mouth and upper airway. Oral sleep apnea appliances like mandibular advancement devices work by nudging your jaw forward and slightly open, which widens the upper airway passages to prevent airway blockage. They are FDA-approved, just like a C-PAP machine, but can only be fitted by a licensed dentist trained in sleep medicine.

Our Carmel Valley sleep dentistry team will make a custom appliance that fits over your teeth so that you can wear it every night. The device precisely pushes your lower jaw forward and opens up the airway. With these sleep apnea appliances, you can reduce the dangers associated with obstructive sleep apnea, including heart disease and stroke.

Working with a professional sleep dentistry team ensures the most comfortable and effective oral appliance. In fact, some people are able to give up using their C-PAP machine altogether when they switch to an oral device for sleep apnea.

Snoring and Sleep Apnea Treatment in Carmel Valley

At Torrey Hills Dental, we offer sleep apnea treatments to patients in Carmel Valley. Our team of dental professionals provides customized, quality oral sleep apnea treatments to help get your life and health back on track. Need sleep apnea treatment near me? Get started with a consultation by contacting us today!