Do You Snore

If your nightly slumber is more like sawing logs, than peaceful sleeping, you might have a condition known as sleep apnea. This common disorder is caused when your airway becomes blocked, and your breathing is closed off. As your lungs struggle to draw in air, snoring or gasping in your sleep, can occur. Marconi Dental can work with you, and your medical provider, to help you get a great night’s sleep.

Poor Sleep, Poor Health

Highly interrupted sleep, and oxygen deprivation doesn’t just keep you (and your loved one) awake at night. It can also cause some serious health complications, over time. Left untreated, sleep apnea can put you at risk of:

  • Diabetes
  • Depression
  • Heart Disease
  • Stroke
  • High Blood Pressure

… not to mention that lack of sleep can make nodding off, like when driving, a real concern.

Dental Changes Caused By Snoring

Did you know that the condition of your mouth can help diagnose a sleeping disorder? Your dentist can look for signs, such as a scalloped tongue, where your back molars have left an impression due to a nightly obstructed airway.

Other symptoms that your dentist will look for include a dry mouth, an enlarged tongue, or a small jaw. Do you have abnormal tooth wear or suffer from broken restorations? It might be from clenching your teeth in the night, as you struggle to breathe.

Is It Sleep Apnea?

Often times, people are unaware that they have a sleeping disorder – until their partner clues them in. While you have visions of sugar plums dancing in your head, your spouse is wide awake due to the freight train they’re cuddled up with. Though your partner may be the first to notice the symptoms of sleep apnea, there are other signs that can clue you in, too. Those include:

  • Waking with a headache or frequent migraine
  • Difficulty concentrating or remembering things
  • Waking often to visit the bathroom
  • Mood swings, especially irritability and depression
  • A sore throat when you wake
  • Dry mouth that wakes you in the night or greets you in the morning
  • Mouth breathing during the day
  • Feeling unrested, after a night’s sleep

What You Can Do…

If you think you might have a snoring issue, be sure to ask your Carmichael dentist. The experienced team at Marconi Dental can work with your doctor, to help you get the answers and treatment you need. You may need a referral for a sleep study, to monitor you overnight, or a simple take home study may suffice.

If you have sleep apnea, your doctor may recommend a special Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine, to keep your airway open. Many patients find the mask and machine uncomfortable, and prefer a customized dental sleep appliance that can also ease snoring symptoms. With a snoring appliance, your jaw is gently eased forward, into an optimal position to open your airway for a better night’s sleep. Don’t wait to enjoy a peaceful night’s rest. Call today to see if sleep problems are wreaking havoc on your teeth!

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