Do you wish, more than anything, that you could simply get a peaceful night’s sleep? Is the one thing getting in the way of that not a barking dog or crying kid, but a snoring spouse? If so, it’s time to talk to your family dentist. Many people don’t realize that loud snoring can be much more than an annoyance to loved ones. It can actually be a warning sign of Obstructive Sleep apnea, a serious health condition that negatively impacts millions of Americans. If you do suspect your significant other could be struggling with OSA, the good news is that treatment from your dentist might be able to help both of you start sleeping better!
Know the Warning Signs of OSA
Loud snoring is perhaps the most well-known symptom of OSA, but it’s not the only warning sign of this condition.
Patients also complain about feeling tired and drowsy in the morning, no matter how much sleep they get. They may also seem irritable, or have difficulty concentrating. This can make work, driving and other everyday activities seem inexplicably difficult or even dangerous.
In some cases, patients may also suffer from memory loss, bedwetting, and a decreased sex drive. Dry mouth, headaches, and teeth grinding can also be caused or exacerbated by sleep apnea.
How Can a Dentist Help?
Fortunately, in many cases treatment for sleep apnea is actually quite simple and effective. Sleep appliances are one solution offered by many dentists. Patients often find these appliances a favorable alternative to cumbersome CPAP machines.
A SomnoDent Sleep Solution actually looks quite similar to the kind of mouthguards often worn to protect teeth during athletic events, and also at night, during orthodontic treatment. Yet a sleep appliance is made specifically to keep soft tissues from shifting as one sleeps, and then blocking one’s airway.
In doing so, they can help to minimize or eliminate snoring, and more importantly, allow for more constant airflow as one sleeps!
To find out if a sleep appliance could be the solution your significant other needs, or something you, yourself, need, schedule an appointment with your family dentist today.
