Are You Silently Suffering from Sleep Apnea?

Sleeping well is one of the foundational pieces of a happy and healthy life. When you don’t get good sleep on a nightly basis, everything else suddenly becomes much more difficult. Sleep apnea is one of the major causes of poor sleep, yet many people don’t even know it is a problem for them each night. 

Knowing what signs might point to sleep apnea is important, so we’ll use this article to highlight some of the key indicators of a problem. Should you determine that sleep apnea is an issue you might be dealing with, reach out to My Rivertown Dental right away to learn more about your options. 

Three Common Signs

The first step in this process is spotting some signs that you might be dealing with sleep issues. These problems don’t automatically point to sleep apnea, but they are reason enough to look into what the underlying problem may be. 

• Feeling exhausted. One of the primary signs of sleep apnea is constantly feeling tired throughout the day, even when you think you’ve been getting plenty of sleep at night. If you go to bed at a reasonable hour and stay in bed for somewhere from 6-8 hours, you shouldn’t be exhausted – unless the quality of that sleep is being degraded by something like sleep apnea. 
• Excessively loud snoring. It’s not uncommon for people to snore as they sleep, but very loud snoring might be representative of an issue with your breathing. Of course, you won’t be able to hear yourself snoring as you sleep, so you’ll have to ask for input on this point from someone that you share a bed with. 
• Dry mouth in the morning. Does your mouth feel dry when you wake up in the morning? Is your throat sore after sleeping even if you aren’t sick? These can be signs that your mouth is open throughout the night, which could point to sleep apnea being a possibility. 

Getting More Information

Once you have reason enough to wonder about sleep apnea, the next step is to look closer at your sleep issues to determine the underlying cause of the problems. Often, this means going through a sleep study at home or working with a sleep specialist to analyze the situation. We want to make sure we have as much accurate information as possible about your sleep before deciding on a treatment approach. 

The Right Treatment

One of the most popular treatments for sleep apnea is the use of a CPAP machine. This device is worn through the night and it helps keep airflow working properly so you can sleep deeply and get the rest you’ve been missing. However, CPAP doesn’t always work for patients with sleep apnea, so it’s possible you’ll need to work with us to have an oral appliance created that can position your jaw properly during sleep to help you breathe properly all night long. 

If you have been dealing with sleep apnea for some time without having it treated or diagnosed, you may be shocked by how much your life can improve once you start sleeping properly through the night. Contact My Rivertown Dental today and our team will be proud to assist on this important matter. 

About The Author

Dr. Ashley Lee

Dr. Ashley Lee is certified in oral sedation and is a designated qualified dentist for the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine. She has pursued advanced training in the treatment of patients with significant dental issues, taking a special interest in the prevention of oral-systemic diseases. Dr. Lee is a member of the American Academy for Oral Systemic Health, American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine, American Dental Association, Academy for General Dentistry, and the American Academy of Facial Esthetics.

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