For a number of individuals, dental decay is going to be the biggest hurdle to overcome when it comes to maintaining adequate oral health. Indeed, decay is one of the most common dental concerns present, affecting millions of people every year in various ways, including simple cavities to complex tooth loss. For others, however, this threat falls short in comparison to a dangerous sleeping disorder that, without treatment, can compromise your overall health. In today’s blog, your Conroe, TX dentist will discuss the dangers of sleep apnea and explain how our team can help.
What is Sleep Apnea?
It goes without saying that snoring in and of itself is a common occurrence that affect a number of people. What’s more, one would not typically associate snoring with that of an oral or dental health problem.
In reality, however, chronic snoring can actually be indicative of a much bigger concern known as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). This phenomenon occurs when the throat muscles relax and subsequently cause the air passage to constrict, making it difficult for the brain to receive oxygen. When this occurs, the brain sends a signal to briefly rouse you in order to correct the problem and reopen the airway. This will continue to happen in a pattern throughout the night, resulting in a disruptive and restless sleep and cycles of continued stopping and restarting of breathing. If you or a loved one experience a similar phenomenon such as this, make sure to contact our team today to learn about your options.
Immediate Effects and Long-Term Complications
Those who suffer from OSA typically experience symptoms such as daytime fatigue and hypersomnia, nighttime insomnia, chronic snoring, awaking with a dry mouth or headache, difficulty focusing during the day, and irritability. While these may appear as minor inconveniences at first, bear in mind that OSA can result in potentially life-altering complications down the line.
Because this disorder affects your breathing and oxygen levels to the brain, major concerns can develop if it persists over significant time. For instance, you could develop complications with surgeries, heart problems, liver concerns, type 2 diabetes, and much more.
Treatment Options
Obstructive sleep apnea can quickly turn into a major concern, which is why it is best to act sooner rather than later in order to prevent the negative infliction on your health. Our team can work with you to create an effective treatment plan involving either a CPAP machine or a custom oral appliance to help keep your air way open while you rest.
Schedule Your Appointment
For more information about the effects of OSA or to schedule your appointment with our team, contact The Dental Centre of Conroe in Conroe, TX by calling 936-441-4600 today.
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