Aug
Is snoring annoying your bed partner and interrupting your happy home life? Has obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) affected your sleep and overall well-being? A Brush Above Family Dentistry in Chicago, Illinois, is here to help. Drs. Marcella Guzman, Phillip Fidel, Rosa Sinno, and the team offer snoring and sleep apnea solutions to ensure you and your bed partner enjoy a good night’s sleep and quality life.
Snoring is an involuntary noise produced during sleep as air flows through the mouth and the throat is partially obstructed. It often results from the vibration of the soft tissues in the upper airway, such as the palate and uvula. Snoring can vary in severity and can be occasional or chronic. Although anyone is at risk of snoring, certain factors can increase its likelihood.Â
These include:
Although you may view snoring as a mere annoyance, it can be a symptom of a more severe condition: obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). OSA is a sleep condition that causes a stoppage of breathing when sleeping. This breathing cessation occurs when the muscles in the throat relax, blocking the airway partially or entirely. Even though you are asleep, your brain senses oxygen deprivation and arouses your body just enough to get you breathing again. However, when you relax, the sleep apnea episodes strike again, resulting in fragmented sleep patterns.Â
Sleep apnea episodes can occur up to a hundred times a night, disturbing your sleep and leaving you feeling drowsy and unrested. Snoring is usually the tell-tale symptom of sleep apnea, but it doesn’t always mean you have OSA. However, if you experience the symptoms below, visit a sleep doctor for an OSA diagnosis.
You may not realize you have OSA because it happens when sleeping, but this doesn’t mean you are off the hook. Many scientific studies have shown that untreated sleep apnea increases the risk of systematic diseases like heart problems, hypertension, stroke, and diabetes. When you suspect sleep apnea, treat it immediately.
While you need a medical doctor to diagnose your sleep apnea, you can always find effective treatment from a sleep apnea dentist. The standard treatment provided by a medical professional for OSA is a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device, which uses a mask to deliver a steady airflow onto your airway. As you can imagine, this treatment can be uncomfortable and challenging to wear when sleeping.Â
So, what does a dentist have to offer for sleep apnea? Our office has a simple solution that many patients find comfortable and easy to use. We use an oral device similar to a nightguard to keep your lower jaw in an optimal position and prevent the soft tissues from collapsing. Instead of being strapped into a machine, you only need to slip this custom-fitted device in your mouth.
The added benefit of a sleep apnea mouthpiece is that it can stop snoring, ensuring a good night’s sleep for you and your partner. Moreover, this device is portable, easy to maintain, and doesn’t need electricity to operate.
Have you been diagnosed with sleep apnea? We have a solution to keep you breathing easily through the night. To get started, please call (773) 840-0378 to schedule an appointment with A Brush Above Family Dentistry.