What You Should Know About Sleep Apnea

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Have you ever been woken up because someone else is snoring? Do you snore yourself? While snoring can be annoying, did you know that it may also be an indicator of a more serious issue? Still, our team may be able to help you deal with this problem.

As you may know, one problem that could cause snoring is sleep apnea, which can be hard to spot since you’ll be asleep. Generally, sleep apnea involves your tongue or other muscles in your mouth obstructing your airway. If you’re dealing with sleep apnea, you may stop breathing several times every night. Luckily, there are a few indicators you should watch for, including problems like daytime fatigue, moodiness, and trouble focusing.

Of course, your doctor could recognize signs of sleep apnea, but since sleep apnea causes problems like dry mouth and enamel erosion, dentists are often able to catch the warning signs first. If we recognize sleep apnea, there are several treatments options you can consider. For example, we often suggest an oral sleep appliance, which will help you keep your airway open while you sleep. This can combat sleep apnea and other problems caused by it.

To learn more about treating sleep apnea in Grants Pass, Oregon, please give Open Door Family Dentistry a call at 541-479-5505. Dr. Ryan Bailey and our team will gladly inspect your teeth and answer any questions you have. We’re excited to meet with you.