What is sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder in which your breathing stops and starts, over and over. If you’re still tired after a full night’s sleep, or if your roommate or partner tells you you snore loudly, you might be suffering from sleep apnea.
Obstructive sleep apnea:
The most common, this happens when throat muscles relax abnormally
Central sleep apnea:
This type of sleep apnea occurs when your brain doesn’t send proper signals to the breathing muscles
Complex sleep apnea syndrome:
This describes someone who has both obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea
Factors that could increase the risk on sleep apnea
- Obesity
- Family history
- Use of alcohol, sedatives, or tranquilizers
- Smoking
- Nasal congestion
- Medical conditions
- Heart disorders
- Stroke
- High blood pressure or heart problems
Symptoms of Sleep Apnea
Signs of obstructive and central sleep apnea overlap. These include:
Loud snoring
Gasping for air during sleep
Awakening with a dry mouth
Morning headache
Difficulty staying asleep (insomnia)
Excessive daytime sleepiness (hypersomnia)
Difficulty paying attention while awake
Irritability
Oral health and sleep apnea
Sleep apnea is characterized by short pauses in breathing during sleep; it might include snoring and choking in your sleep, making it a serious health condition.
Poor oral health could cause sleep apnea, as well as the other way around.
Dental problems such as temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ), bruxism, or dry mouth can be caused by sleep apnea. Habits such as teeth grinding or breathing with your mouth open may lead to sleep apnea, as well as decreased dental health.
Dental symptoms of sleep apnea include:
Clenching/grinding teeth during sleep
Tightness and pain in joints around the month
Sore, raw spots from chewing the inside of your cheeks
Dull headaches at the temples
Not sure if your oral health is affected by sleep apnea, or the other way around? That’s what we’re here for. Give us a call at (816) 429-5799.
What can a dentist do about my sleep apnea?
At Jackson Family Dental, we’ll help you identify dental problems caused by sleep apnea, and recommend ways to alleviate those symptoms.
At our office, we offer Solea Laser Treatment for those struggling with snoring. This treatment uses a laser – a painless and non-invasive technology — to tighten collagen fibers in the soft palate, allowing patients with obstructive sleep apnea to breathe deeper and sleep better.
We will also guide you through behavior modifications that improve your sleep quality and dental health, such as orthodontic treatment to repair teeth misalignment, treatments for dry mouth, and/or a dental mouthpiece to reduce teeth grinding and clenching. Sleep apnea devices, snore guards, and snoring mouthpieces are available at our office, should our dentists decide your situation calls for one.
Common questions about snoring and oral health
How do you know when snoring becomes a problem?
Snoring can be normal. But when it’s loud, obnoxious, and raucous snoring, or it’s interrupted by pauses in breathing, it’s probably a sign of obstructive sleep apnea, which is a serious health concern. Excessive tiredness after a full night’s sleep can also hint at sleep apnea, as can high-blood pressure.
When should I see a dentist about my sleep apnea?
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), or when breathing during sleep pauses for at least 10 seconds before picking up again, may be caused by large tonsils, excess tissue in the upper airway, or abnormal structure of the jaw and airway. Our dental specialists are trained in different sleep apnea treatments, such as special sleep apnea mouthguards that provide a larger airway, alleviating breath problems as you sleep.
What are the benefits of Solea Laser treatment for sleep apnea?
Here are just a few benefits of using our Solea Laser treatment:
- It reduces or eliminates snoring
- Patients experience better-quality sleep
- It reduces sore throats and headaches
- Patients enjoy increased daytime energy and better moods
- Patients experience improvements in concentration, memory, and learning
Hear from our patients
“I had an amazing experience. I have been to several offices, but this one really blew me away. I was beyond impressed with every detail of my visit.”
“I have a history of disliking dentists. I’ve had a lot of pain and a lot and a lot of procedures done. And when I went to Dr. Jesse I had a painless experience for the first time and that just really changed things for me.“
“My experience at Jackson Family Dental has been one of great professionalism and great service. They have the technology and everything you’re looking for in a dentist. But the thing that really keeps me and my family coming back are the relationships we’ve built.“
Schedule your cleaning & exam
Even if it’s been years since your last cleaning, we’d love to see you. There’s no judgement here, just a team dedicated to your oral health. Call (816) 429-5799 to schedule a visit today.
Our Liberty office
Kansas City, MO 64157
Jackson Family Dental is conveniently located right off of Route 152. Enjoy our spa-like atmosphere and family-friendly approach. We look forward to seeing you!
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