Sleep Apnea: How It Can Affect Your Oral Health and Its Treatment

Are you unable to sleep due to snoring? If you snore, you probably don't get enough rest. Snoring can be irritating to yourself and other people in your household. It may be an indication of obstructive sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea occurs when throat muscles get relaxed and obstruct your upper airway while you're sleeping. It interrupts your breathing leading to heavy snoring.

The main signs of sleep apnea include:

• Gasping for air during sleep
• Snoring and choking sounds
• Insomnia
• Fatigue and irritability during the day

The disorder can cause more severe complicationsthan just poor sleep. It contributes to headaches, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, mental problems, and oral health issues, among others.

A considerable number of people with sleep apnea suffer from bruxism. It's a state of involuntary jaw clenching and teeth grinding with the potential to abrade the enamel. Sleep apnea is also to blame for many cases of or temporomandibular joint disorder(TMJ).

Sleep apnea also causes acid reflux. If the acidic contents come into contact with your teeth, they eat them up, making them susceptible to cavities. Additionally, most patients of obstructive sleep apnea breathe through their mouth, causing the oral cavity to dry up. The enamel remains without the moisture that acts as a protective cover.

Your dentist can recommend oral appliances to treat sleep apnea. They are easy to wear and comfortable. They come in different forms tailored to patients' with unique needs.

Mandibular advancement devices ( MADs) push the lower jaw forward, clearing the airway. They resemble mouth guards. A tongue retaining device keeps the tongue in place as you sleep to prevent obstruction.

At Georgetown Family Dentistry, we can issue you with a home monitor to determine whether you have sleep apnea. If you have the condition, we can fabricate a custom appliance to stop the snoring and other health complications.

Contact usnow if you would like to learn more about sleep apnea treatments.