Sleep Disorder Centre Chatswood
Did You Know Your Dentist Can Help You Reduce Snoring And Finally Enjoy A Restful Night’s Sleep?
You know a good night’s sleep is vital for a variety of health reasons and helps you be your best throughout the day.
Unfortunately, more and more people are being robbed of good sleep due to an increase in sleep-related breathing disorders (SRBD).
Bouts of SRBD are characterized by recurring episodes of interrupted respiratory airflow throughout the night as soft tissues in the back of the throat collapse during sleep, partially obstructing the windpipe.
Common causes of SRBD are:
- Enlarged Tongue
- Overweight/Obesity
- Enlarged Tonsils and/or Uvula
- Small Lower Jaw/Retruded Chin
- Nasal Polyps
- Congestion
The result: Frequent choking, gasping for air or loud snoring during sleep.
If this problem becomes chronic, you may have Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), a dangerous disorder that affects more than 5% of Australians and causes significant blockage of your upper airway for extended periods of time, lowering your blood-oxygen levels to worrying levels.
Many sleep apnea sufferers experience micro-arousals, and can wake up 50 or more times per hour without remembering a single time, completely robbing them of healthy sleep.
Why Treat Sleep Apnea
Left untreated, sleep apnea continues to produce a number of other problematic symptoms for patients, like daytime fatigue, and eventually to more serious health issues like obesity and an increased likelihood of heart disease.
It's possible you may have OSA if you snore and also suffer from any of the following:
- Irritability
- Insomnia
- Personality Changes
- Depression
- Excessive Daytime Fatigue Or Sleepiness
- Impaired emotional or mental functioning
- Poor Memory/Confusion
- Night Time Sweating
- Decreased Sex Drive/Loss Of Intimacy
- Diminished Performance
- Accident Proneness
- Morning Headache
- Irritant To Bed Partner
- Waking Up With A Sore Throat Or Dry Mouth
- High Blood Pressure
- Diabetes
- Stomach Acid Regurgitation
- Even death!
Sleep apnea is treatable and seeking sleep apnea therapy is essential for maximizing your quality of life and improving relations with those you share sleeping quarters.
Simply Dental Can Help Relieve Sleep Apnea Symptoms
While the most common warning sign of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is chronic, loud snoring, there is an excellent chance that your dentist will be the first healthcare professional to discover your disorder during one of your bi-annual checkups.
However, before you seek actual treatment for sleep apnea, you should be formally diagnosed by a sleep care specialist or your family physician first.
Once you’ve been diagnosed with OSA, book your appointment with Simply Dental for proper sleep apnea treatment and therapy to regain your ability to enjoy deep, peaceful sleep.
Common Sleep Apnea Treatments
First off, no two sleep apnea sufferers are alike and treatment will vary depending on the severity of your specific circumstances.
Generally, you’ll be recommended one of the following treatment options:
For mild cases, minor behavioral and lifestyle changes such as changing your sleeping position, losing weight, quitting smoking or wearing a jaw-repositioning device while you sleep may be enough.
More severe cases of OSA may require the use of a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure system or CPAP device, which delivers forced air through a tube attached to a mask, effectively keeping your airway from collapsing while you sleep.
In worst cases, oral surgery, such as a tonsillectomy or a repositioning of soft throat tissue, may be the only remedy.
Only your dentist can provide the proper Oral Appliance Therapy to successfully manage your sleep-related breathing disorder.
Are you concerned you may have sleep apnea?
If you want to sleep more soundly throughout the night and wake up refreshed, ready to take on your day at your best, it’s time to take action.
The first step is to contact your primary care physician or a qualified sleep specialist to receive your official diagnosis. From there, relieving your sleep apnea symptoms is as simple as coming into Simply Dental Chatswood for your routine checkup and talking to our friendly team of dentist Chatswood about your sleep apnea treatment options. We also offer sleep apnea treatment in Chatswood.