12 Dec Kelowna Dentist Discusses Sleep Apnea: The Not So Silent Killer
Snoring may be a regular part of your sleep routine or your loved ones. It can be tricky to enjoy a restful, peaceful sleep when it sounds like you are snoozing beside an aircraft carrier. Some clients wake themselves up regularly, not to mention other members of the house. While it doesn’t always indicate sleep apnea, snoring is one of the most recognizable symptoms in adults and young children. True Dental West Kelowna can help you amend the situation. We will thoroughly analyze your oral health and well-being to see if Bruxism or grinding is additionally taking place. This excessive wear and tear on your teeth can be addressed with a comfortable custom mouth guard that will protect your dentition.
Excessive Snoring Wreaks Havoc On Rest
Besides causing waking episodes and spousal issues, sleep apnea related snoring can be extremely detrimental to your overall health. Continuous sleep disturbances do not allow your mind and body to achieve a completely relaxed and restful state. This can lead to brain fog, memory issues, irritability and a host of other concerns. Clients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea can stop breathing altogether for extended periods multiple times throughout the night, initiating a worrisome lack of oxygen to the brain and vital organs.
Common Symptoms of Sleep Apnea Not To Be Ignored Include:
1. Gasping or choking sounds that occur after pauses in breathing
2. Mood swings or personality changes
3. Headaches upon waking in the morning
4. Fighting sleepiness while driving, at work or school or throughout the whole day
5. Depression
6. Sore throat or dry throat upon waking
7. Irritability
8. Decreased libido
9. Attention issues
10. Falling asleep rapidly during inactive times
11. Stopped breathing episodes
12. Having to wake up multiple times to urinate during the night
Oral Devices From Your Favourite West Kelowna Dentist
Thankfully, there are different dental devices that may be helpful for treating mild to moderate cases of this condition. The mandibular advancement device is one of the most common used to treat sleep apnea. It is similar to a sports mouth guard and acts by forcing the lower jaw slightly forward and down to help maintain an open airway. Other clients have success with a tongue retraining device comprised of a splint designed to hold the tongue in the correct position to establish an open airway. Keep in mind that once you are outfitted with any dental device, regular checkups are essential to ensure any minute adjustments or replacements are made as necessary.
Discuss Sleep Apnea With Us At Your Dental Checkup
While snoring has a bad reputation for being an embarrassing issue, the truth is, talking about it could save your life. Sleep apnea sadly claims many otherwise healthy individuals each year. Addressing this avoidable issue can be as simple as having dental impressions taken at your next appointment to have a custom mouthguard made. Some clients gain significant insight from attending a sleep clinic where their nightly patterns are monitored and recorded for further analysis. Depriving your brain and body of oxygen consistently is dangerous and needs to be treated ASAP. True Dental in West Kelowna can help you take the first steps on your road to recovery. Enjoy peaceful nights at last while taking steps to protect your precious smile.