Did you know that poor sleep quality and quantity during pregnancy can disrupt the development of a healthy baby? Disruptions in sleep can lead to lower birth weights, a weaker immune system, and other complications like depression in the mother.
What if you could avoid these potential problems for the baby and mother alike by identifying a simple sleep disorder? Believe it or not, your local dentist is probably the best professional to assist you with this health problem. Obstructive sleep apnea in Danville could be the cause of your restlessness and snoring throughout the night.
What is obstructive sleep apnea?
It’s estimated that a whopping 22 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea—a potentially deadly sleeping disorder! Obstructive sleep apnea is a condition that causes your airway to become blocked while resting. This leads to pauses in breathing and a lack of necessary oxygen flow. Your body will show these signs of sleep apnea:
- Loud, chronic snoring
- A dry throat in the mornings
- Fatigue
- Choking or gasping while sleeping
- Restlessness
- Forgetfulness
- Mood changes
- Inability to focus
- Insomnia
- Decreased sex drive
What are the health risks associated with sleep apnea?
The lack of oxygen makes your brain work in overdrive. Your brain will suddenly send emergency signals to the rest of your body, forcing it to jolt awake just long enough to clear your airway. Most patients hardly remember waking up, but this interrupts your critical sleep cycle and can contribute towards these health complications and risks:
- Severe morning headaches
- Hypertension
- Heart disease
- Strokes
- Diabetes
- Weight gain
- Memory issues
- Fatigue and daytime exhaustion
- Depression and anxiety
What can a dentist do to help?
Most cases of sleep apnea are caused from an obstruction in the airway. When your airway is blocked, it’s difficult for your body to get the appropriate amounts of oxygen as explained above. Fortunately, the training that dentists undergo prepare them for dealing with all aspects of the head, neck, and mouth. That’s why many dentists offer the most non-invasive solution possible: a custom oral appliance. Patients suffering from sleep apnea tend to sleep better because their airways are kept open from the appliance throughout the night.
Not any mouthpiece that can be bought at a local drug store will work the same as a doctor prescribed, custom oral appliance. To be effective, the appliance must be personalized to fit each patient’s mouth and properly shift your jaw open to clear the airway.
How can I start sleeping better soon?
If you’re interested in receiving a custom oral appliance from a true dental expert, you must first be diagnosed with sleep apnea. It’s best to reach out to your local dentist in Danville to move forward with the recovery process.
You can enjoy full sleep cycles again as soon as you start wearing your oral appliance regularly. This should improve your overall quality of life (or the child’s life if you know anyone who’s pregnant), mood, relationships, and general health. It all starts with a single phone call to your dentist!
About Our Office
Since 1976, Danville Dental Associates has opened its doors to the Danville community to serve excellent dental services, helping to improve the quality of patient’s lives. Our office has worked hard to offer only the highest quality dental services for every patient in our practice through several generations of their families. If you would like to speak to one of our dental experts, feel free to call our office!