It goes without saying that dental decay is arguably the most common oral threat there is, as oral bacteria wreak havoc on your natural teeth. While this may be true, decay is far from the only concern one has to worry about when it comes to their smile. Indeed, there are countless threats out there ready to damage your health, and some are much more common than others. In today’s blog, your Conroe, TX dentist will take a look at the impact of sleep disorders on your health, and how failing to seek treatment can cause lifelong complications.

What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

Whether they are aware of it or not, some individuals are impacted by the effects of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). This phenomenon occurs when the throat muscles relax while one slumbers, causing their airway to become restricted. As a direct result, not enough oxygen is making its way to the brain, so the brain responds by sending signals to correct the issue.

One of the common results of this involves grinding one’s teeth. You see, when individuals experience clenching and grinding, the throat muscles restrict or tighten, thus opening the air passage. Another possibility involves the brain sending signals to briefly rouse you so that the issue can be resolved. These periodic episodes make for restless sleep, meaning that you may not feel at your best the next day. In most cases, OSA causes loud snoring, so make sure to contact our team if you or a partner exhibit signs of incessant snoring.

Immediate and Lifelong Effects

The immediate effects of OSA can be quite inconvenient, lending themselves to disrupt your day-to-day routine and function. For instance, those experiencing sleep apnea may endure insomnia at night and hypersomnia during the day. Additionally, waking with a dry mouth, increased irritability, difficulty paying attention, and more all are results of OSA.

While the immediate effects may seem annoying at worst, the issues will only continue to grow in severity over time. For instance, an individual experiencing prolonged OSA can develop heart complications down the line. Additional issues that arise involve liver complications, complications with medication and surgery, and even heart disease. For more information about these effects and what they mean, reach out to our team today.

How We Help

We recognize that sleep apnea may not be a traditional oral health concern, however, we want to do what we can to protect your smile. Our team can help set you up with a custom oral appliance to help mitigate your sleeping disorder, as well as protect your health.

Learn More Today

Contact The Dental Centre of Conroe in Conroe, TX by calling 936-441-4600 to learn more about this process or to schedule your next appointment with our team today.