Serving patients of Erwin, Jonesborough, and Greeneville TN
Sleep is a crucial life element required for your body to restore energy resources and rejuvenate itself to prepare for the next day. Unfortunately, when your body doesn’t receive adequate sleep, it can begin to show distress signs. You may already know and have experienced one of the signs, which is daytime sleepiness. However, there are more symptoms connected to sleep apnea than you may think. So, our Jonesborough sleep apnea dentists at Tusculum Dental Care share on the blog today the most obvious signs of sleep apnea and how you can find treatment for the condition.
What is sleep apnea?
Our Erwin sleep apnea dentists explain that a person with sleep apnea will have frequent pauses in breathing throughout the night. Insufficient breathing, an airflow blockage, or both may cause breathing pauses or apneic events. Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)Â occurs when there is a physical obstruction to airflow during sleep and is the most prevalent sleep apnea type. In many cases, there may be 30 or more pauses in an hour, lasting a few seconds or longer each time. And consequently, when your airflow becomes blocked, your brain and body fail to receive the necessary oxygen for restoration.
What are sleep apnea symptoms?
Your body has a way of telling you that something is wrong, and sleep apnea is no different. Many patients report symptoms of choking or gasping while sleeping, waking up many times during the night, night sweats, morning headaches, excessively loud snoring, hypertension, and dry mouth upon awakening. Our Greeneville dentists who treat sleep apnea explain that these symptoms may naturally lead to less restful sleep, resulting in daytime sleepiness that has you running to the coffee pot or the store for a caffeine fix in the middle of the day. Additionally, when your brain fails to receive the oxygen it needs, it can quickly become clouded and unfocused, which makes a challenging day even harder.
How can a dentist tell a patient suffers from sleep apnea?
Dentists are generally among the first to notice signs of sleep apnea. Our Greeneville dentists provide sleep apnea screenings, although an official diagnosis must come from a sleep specialist.
Our sleep apnea dentists in the Jonesborough area may also notice one or more of the following conditions that indicate you may have sleep apnea.
- Cavity Increase
- Damaged Teeth
- Throat Irritation
- Scalloped-edged Tongue
- Gum Recession or Inflammation
- Bruxism, Grinding and Clenching Teeth
Dental exams and X-rays of the head and neck might uncover enlarged throat tissues or other obstructions in the airway. However, we will advise you to visit your doctor if we detect any physical barriers and believe medical intervention is necessary.
What treatments are available for sleep apnea?
After you receive a diagnosis from a sleep specialist, our dentists in Erwin who treat sleep apnea patients can devise an effective treatment plan. Fortunately, Tusculum Dental Care offers multiple treatment options that include neuromuscular dentistry and oral appliances. The treatment path you need will depend on your condition’s severity and unique characteristics. However, if you choose to forego treatment, your risk of advanced health conditions like cardiovascular disease, obesity, hypertension, and diabetes could increase.
Sleep Apnea Treatment in Greeneville, Jonesborough, and Erwin, Tennessee
Feeling groggy every day with an inability to focus can quickly become frustrating and overwhelming. Even though you may try to sleep more hours every night, sleep apnea can still prevent you from getting a restful night’s sleep. So, if you identify with any of the above sleep apnea signs, now is the time to schedule a consultation with our Greeneville sleep apnea dentists at Tusculum Dental Care to begin treatment and restore a healthy sleep cycle. Please call (423) 639-7575 or contact us online to request an appointment today so that you can sleep better tonight and feel better tomorrow.