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Many people do not think that snoring is a concern, but frequent, loud snoring may be a sign of sleep apnea, which is a common and potentially serious disorder in which your breathing repeatedly stops and starts as you sleep. Although sleep apnea is treatable, it may often go unrecognized, which can be dangerous and detrimental to your health. It is important to visit your dentist if you suspect that you may suffer from sleep apnea, or snoring. Your dentist has the ability to prescribe a dental device to help with the symptoms. Put Oral Appliances to Use In September of 1995 the American Sleep Disorder Association endorsed oral appliance therapy as the third acceptable treatment modality for snoring and sleep apnea available today. It is estimated that 60% of men and 40% of women between the ages of 40 and 60 snore. Snoring occurs when the airway is completely blocked for certain periods of time. As many as 20 million people in North America may have sleep apnea. Snoring is a social problem, but obstructive sleep apnea poses a significant health risk for you because it can lead to irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, heart attacks and strokes. Treatment for sleep apnea may include various dental appliances that reposition the lower jaw and the tongue. These have been proven to be helpful to some patients with mild sleep apnea or those who snore, but do not have sleep apnea. Your dentist can prescribe custom made oral appliances to help alleviate your symptoms and allow for a better night's sleep.
What is Sleep Apnea? Sleep apnea is a disorder that affects the way that you breathe while you are sleeping. In untreated sleep apnea, breathing is interrupted or becomes very shallow while sleeping which can last between 10 to 20 seconds and can occur up to hundreds of times a night. Symptoms of sleep apnea include:
• Morning headaches
• Excessive daytime sleepiness
• Irritability and impaired mental or emotional functioning
• Excessive snoring, choking or gasping during sleep
• Insomnia
• Awakening with a dry mouth or sore mouth What is Snoring? Snoring or gasping sounds are caused by the vibration of relaxed, floppy tissues that line the upper airway or throat. As you sleep, muscle tone decreases throughout your body and your throat muscles relax, which causes the soft palate and the uvula to vibrate as you breathe. The severity of snoring varies from person to person. While it is not life threatening, it may interfere with a good night's sleep for you and those in your household. You can minimize snoring with the help of dental devices as well as: • Lose weight
• Quit smoking
• Limit or avoid alcohol use and sedatives
• Sleep on your side instead of your back If you experience any symptoms associated with snoring or sleep apnea, consult your Beverly Hills dentist for proper diagnosis and treatment. Don't ignore your lack of sleep. Get treatment now and you can potentially prevent any further complications and rest peacefully.
Sean Hartmen writes for Dr. Shervin Louie, a leading dentist Beverly Hills. Specializing in a range of cosmetic and family dental services including teeth whitening and veneers, this Los Angeles general dentist is qualified to handle every dental need for patients in Los Angeles, Wilshire, Hollywood and other surrounding areas of California.
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