If you believe you are suffering from sleep apnea, the time to do something about it is now. This condition can have severe effects on your health. It can even lead to cardiovascular problems and death. Luckily, different treatment options are available, and you can control this condition. You may think of your general dentist as someone who cleans your teeth and fills cavities. But this professional can also be your first resource of finding relief from this breathing issue.
Snoring can be much more than an annoying habit; it can also be a sign of more serious problems. People who snore may have restricted airflow, which means that breathing will be difficult when the individual is asleep. A person has sleep apnea when they stop breathing for seconds or minutes at a time and then restart. This cycle can occur throughout the night.
Overweight and obese people are more prone to having sleep apnea. It also becomes more common as people age. Smoking and drinking alcohol can also increase a person’s risk of having the disease. People who do not treat the condition can suffer a heart attack or stroke.
A general physician is often a patient’s first choice for battling sleep apnea. However, general dentists also have the knowledge and training to treat patients with this disease. Instead of recommending a CPAP machine, however, the dentist will turn to other methods. Before beginning treatment, the dentist will first examine the patient. The dentist will look for signs of obstruction in the airway, including excess tissue or an abnormally large tongue or tonsils. Once the dentist diagnoses the person with the illness, the right treatment can begin.
People wear mouthguards at night to stop grinding their teeth. It is also a good solution for sleep apnea. Wearing a mouthguard will pull the jaw forward. This action not only reduces snoring, but it will pull the jaw forward and open the airway. The dentist will take impressions of the mouth to fit the patient with the right mouthguard. After the patient wears the appliance for a few weeks, the dentist will follow up to ensure that it is working effectively.
Wearing a tongue suppressor at night can also improve a patient’s ability to breathe. The dentist will suggest this method when the patient has a large tongue or when the individual has the habit of moving the tongue to the roof of the mouth. This device holds the tongue in place and out of the way of the air going in and out of the mouth. The patient may try a few different types of suppressors before finding one that fits well and is comfortable.
If you wake up in the night because you stopped breathing, you may have sleep apnea. Never dismiss this condition as something minor. This illness can eventually kill you. To find relief, you should talk to your dentist today. Your dentist can provide you with a mouthguard or tongue suppressor to help you overcome this serious health issue.
Request an appointment here: https://stonecanyondental.com or call Stone Canyon Dental at (972) 996-3191 for an appointment in our Sunnyvale office.
Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Sleep Apnea in Sunnyvale, TX.
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