Aside from placing and restoring dental implants for patients who’ve suffered tooth loss, your Allen dentist, Dr. Marco Cueva, is dedicated to helping ensure the integrity of your entire oral health. Although you might not consider consistent snoring a dental problem, the truth is that the origins of snoring can often be traced to your oral tissues. When snoring is severe, it may indicate a sleep disorder known as sleep apnea, which when left untreated can pose a host of risks to your systemic wellbeing. Keep reading to learn why you shouldn’t ignore snoring, and how Dr. Cueva can help you stop snoring for more peaceful rest.
How Dangerous is Snoring?
The sound of snoring is generated when the tissues in your mouth and throat relax while you sleep, shrinking you airway as the tissues collapse. Air is forced through the shrinking passage, causing the tissues to vibrate and creating the noise known as snoring. Obstructive sleep apnea, which is usually marked by extremely loud snoring punctuated with periodic moments of silence, describes a condition when oral tissues completely block your airway, causing the cessation of your breathing (the Greek word apnea means “to stop breathing). Your brain panics from the lack of oxygen and wakes your body, but only enough to restart the breathing process. Most patients are not aware of these episodes, and may believe that they’re sleeping soundly through the night.
How to Know if It’s Sleep Apnea
If you suffer from sleep apnea, then you might notice symptoms of sleep deprivation without realizing that you’re losing sleep. Daytime drowsiness, an inability to concentrate, an unusually short temper, and other symptoms can interfere with your daily life, hinting at the possibility of sleep apnea. The repeated lack of oxygen can also affect your systemic health, which requires an adequate and steady supply of oxygenated blood to function properly.
Learn How to Stop Snoring with Help from Your Allen Dentists
Many cases of snoring and sleep apnea can be treated with a custom-designed sleepguard (similar to a mouthguard) that helps keep your jaw in a forward position, preventing oral tissues from collapsing into your airway. If you or your partner wish to stop snoring, or if you believe that you’re sleeping peacefully but still experience signs of sleep deprivation, then schedule an appointment with your Allen dentist by calling (972) 390-9944 today. Located in the 75013 area, we proudly welcome patients from Allen, Plano, Richardson, McKinney, Frisco, Fairview, Murphy, Wylie, Lewisville, Carrolton, and surrounding communities.
