For weeks now, you’ve been exhausted, but you can’t figure out why. You don’t snore, so you couldn’t possibly be suffering from a sleep disorder – could you? When your spouse mentions that he witnessed you stop breathing when you were resting the other night, you know it’s time to work with your doctor. After being diagnosed with sleep apnea, they prescribe a CPAP, but the tubes are cumbersome, and the air pressure is uncomfortable on your throat. Are there any other options to treat this condition? In this post, learn about this common sleep condition, its signs and symptoms, and how your dentist in Covington can help from the team at More Smiles Dental Spa.
What Is Sleep Apnea?
Dr. James Moreau, Dr. Shannon Doyle, and Dr. Israel Finger explain that most people who have sleep apnea in Covington suffer from its obstructive form. This means, when you sleep, your tongue and lower jaw relax, sliding against the back of your throat and block your airway, preventing you from breathing correctly.
Since your body is smart enough to know you’re not getting the oxygen you need, you’ll wake up, but often not remember it. Even though you may not be conscious of waking up, these “micro-arousals” can happen hundreds of times a night – leaving you worn-out and foggy, but without knowing the clear reason why you feel so beat.
What Are the Signs & Symptoms of Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea has many common symptoms:
- Gaps or elongated pauses in breathing when you sleep (these are usually noticed by your partner).
- Waking up gasping for air or with an asthma attack.
- Morning headaches.
- Exhaustion, even after sleeping 8 or more hours.
- Sleepiness while driving.
- Craving carbs and sweets for energy.
- Weight gain.
- Irritability and depression.
- Forgetfulness, a general “foggy” feeling and trouble concentrating.
- Decreased interest in sex.
If any of these symptoms sound familiar, you can get started by reviewing your risk factors or taking this sleep apnea quiz.
Are There Dental Treatments for Sleep Apnea?
If you’ve been prescribed a CPAP for your sleep apnea and the treatment isn’t working for you, we can give you the quality sleep you deserve. Rather than putting your health at risk by leaving this condition untreated, our dentists can provide a customized oral appliance that is similar in appearance to a nightguard.
Worn only while you sleep, this device will shift your lower jaw and tongue out of the way while you sleep. It’s comfortable, and much more economical than a CPAP machine. And, it’s effective – custom oral appliance therapy (COAT) for sleep apnea works well for about 80% of patients. It can eliminate the need for a CPAP machine entirely for some people and can also be used with your CPAP to give you the best quality rest possible.
Now that you know how sleep apnea can present itself and how we can help with dental alternatives to CPAP, schedule your appointment with More Smiles Dental Spa and sleep like a baby again!