As you may have already discovered, not everyone sleeps peacefully. There are many sleep conditions that can make a person toss and turn or make noises while they snooze. Among the most serious sleep conditions is Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Sleep apnea refers to multiple pauses in breathing throughout the night due to airway obstruction. Unfortunately, untreated sleep apnea can affect more than just your quality of sleep. It can impact your daytime energy, your ability to concentrate and your heart health.

Warning Signs of Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea does present itself with some telltale signs through the night. Since you may not be aware of your own sleep habits, your bed partner may be the best person to shed light on your condition and urge you to get treatment.

Do you have a partner who displays the following 3 warning signs of sleep apnea?

#1 Snoring

The most prevalent and obvious sign of sleep apnea can be snoring. While not every case of snoring is rooted in sleep apnea, loud snoring is a primary symptom of OSA.

#2 Gasping for Air

The patterns of sleep apnea include episodes of brief pauses in breathing followed by a notable gasp for air. If you notice your partner waking up gasping for air multiple times per night, a proper sleep study evaluation is in order.

#3 Daytime Fatigue

It is not hard to see how someone with OSA would suffer from sleepiness during the day. With so much interrupted sleep cycles and lack of oxygen to the brain, the body simply cannot get the rest and rejuvenation it needs each night. Daytime symptoms can include fatigue, poor concentration, memory problems and more.

Treatment for Sleep Apnea

Depending on the severity of your OSA, treatment recommendation may include a CPAP machine. However, if you are unable to tolerate this machine or if you only have mild sleep apnea, you may find the most effective solution at your dentist.

Soft Touch Dentistry proudly offers FDA approved oral appliance therapy for sleep apnea. Using a comfort-fit oral appliance, we can keep your airways open and prevent snoring and harmful sleep apnea episodes – leading to a better night’s sleep for both you and your partner. Call our O’Fallon sleep apnea dentist today!

Posted on behalf of Dr. Sarah Thompson, Soft Touch Dentistry
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