If you snore, it could be a sign that you have obstructive sleep apnea. If you do have this condition, you are not only making loud noises that disrupt others while you sleep, but you also quit breathing throughout the night for very short periods of time. Signs of the condition include fatigue, morning headaches, and memory loss. If left untreated, you may end up with high blood pressure, diabetes, erectile dysfunction, or acid reflux. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms or your partner is complaining about your snoring, make an appointment with your dentist. There are a few ways he or she can alleviate the problem or get rid of it altogether.
Jaw Realignment
If you have an overbite, your lower jaw is back further than the upper jaw. One way to rectify this is with braces. While they can not pull your jaw forward by much, it can help if you do not have severe misalignment. You may also need to wear a retainer when you sleep after the braces come off. Of course, most people need the retainer to prevent their teeth from moving back into their original position.
Oral Appliance Therapy
If braces are not something you are interested in or they will not solve the sleep apnea, you may be able to use a dental appliance. Your dentist will take molds of your mouth to fit the appliance so it is as comfortable as possible. It is designed to help keep your jaw and tongue forward while you sleep. It will be up to you to let the dentist know if the appliance is uncomfortable or if the fit has become loose. You will need to wear it nightly and should have it replaced if there is a problem.
If braces or an oral appliance does not resolve the problem, you need to have a sleep study done. This will let you know how many times you stop breathing over the course of a night. You may need to wear a continual positive airway pressure (CPAP) mask while sleeping. This mask is hooked up to a machine that forces air into your lungs. The other alternatives include a few different surgeries. With options like those, going to the dentist first probably seems like a good idea. He or she can let you know if you need to have the sleep study done and advise you as to whether the dental options can help or not.
For more information, contact local professionals like Advanced Dentistry of St. Charles.
Share12 January 2017
Do you have "bad teeth"? I do. Ever since I was a kid, every checkup turns up a number of issues ranging from cavities to dental fractures. It has always been frustrating to keep my smile in decent shape, which is one of the reasons I started focusing on understanding different dental problems. I wanted to know what I was getting into when I visited the doctor, so I began focusing on learning as much as I could. I wanted to create this blog all about dentistry so that other people could find out what to expect when they head to the dentist. Check it out!
