If you have trouble sleeping due to snoring and often feel fatigued and slow moving during the day, you may be suffering from sleep apnea. While snoring is typically a symptom that annoys others more than it annoys the person snoring, the lasting effects of restless sleep can take a huge toll on your quality of life. In today’s blog, your Conroe, TX, dentist will explain the symptoms associated with this sleep disorder, and the treatment that we offer at the Dental Centre of Conroe to improve your sleep and help you to feel rested.
What Is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that occurs when your throat muscles and tissues are overly relaxed. Usually and ideally, a person’s throat muscles remain engaged and active when you sleep, keeping the air passages wide open and keeping the throat tissues from touching. Unfortunately, if your throat tissues are relaxing enough that they touch, causing them to vibrate against each other when you breathe, you will end up snoring. However, if you have sleep apnea, your throat tissues are relaxing so much that they actually completely block your airway. This alerts your brain because you aren’t getting enough oxygen, causing your brain to wake you up so that you can take a breath. Since this happens so quickly, many people do not even remember that it has happened once they wake up.
How Can My Dentist Treat It?
While it may sound like something you should go to a medical doctor for, at the Dental Centre of Conroe, we can treat your sleep disorder effectively in our office. First, Dr. Richards will ask you some questions to diagnose you properly and make sure that we can provide proper treatment. Then, we will fit you with an oral appliance for you to wear while you sleep. The appliance will be similar to a mouth guard, shifting your jaw slightly to open your airway when you are sleeping, making it easier to breathe and get a good night’s sleep every night.
What Are the Benefits of Treatment?
Treating your sleep apnea will benefit you by improving your quality of sleep and therefore your quality of life, as well as by preventing future damage associated with poor sleep and breathing. Other benefits include:
- Being able to sleep all the way through the night
- Functioning comfortably during the day without fatigue and exhaustion
- Fewer mood swings and concentration issues associated with poor sleep
- Improving symptoms like morning headaches and dry mouth
Ready to Give Yourself a Good Night’s Sleep?
If you believe you may be suffering from a sleep disorder, or if you are due for a cleaning and checkup, contact the Dental Centre of Conroe to schedule a visit by calling (936) 441-4600. We serve patients from Conroe, TX, and the neighboring communities.
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