Your Daytime Fatigue Might Be The Result Of A Sleep Disorder

It is true that preventive dentistry is the name of the game when it comes to keeping up with your oral health, and ensuring you have an involved preventive routine is necessary to accomplish this feat. Sometimes, however, the biggest threat to one’s health does not involve the damage caused by harmful oral bacteria, but instead by a sleep disorder that can impact physical health as well. In today’s blog, your Houston, TX dentist will look at the phenomenon known as sleep apnea and how a custom oral appliance might be able to help.

Incessant Snoring

Have you ever had a hard time sleeping because a partner’s snoring continued to wake you up? How about your own snoring disturbing your sleep? While this may not appear to be related to oral health, chronic snoring actually can be indicative of a bigger concern known as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

OSA occurs when your muscles in your throat relax and your airway becomes restricted, struggling to let oxygen reach the brain. Your brain notices this issue and sends signals to briefly rouse you from your slumber to correct the concern. The problem arises, however, when this process is repeated multiple times a night. You see, the periodic waking disturbs your quality of sleep, thus resulting in either insomnia at night or hypersomnia during the day. For more information about this process, contact our team today.

Daytime Side-Effects

In addition to insomnia and hypersomnia, symptoms of OSA can include waking up with a dry mouth or headache, fatigue during the day, irritability, difficulty paying attention, and more. While this may not seem dangerous per se, keep in mind that the effects of OSA can lead to even larger complications down the line. These include problems with blood pressure and the heart, liver concerns, complications with surgical procedures, and more. In other words, it not a concern to be taken lightly, and can result in life-altering complications.

How We Can Help

While this is a frightening phenomenon, keep in mind that there are treatments to help. In addition to traditional CPAP machines, a custom oral appliance can more comfortably and efficiently open your airway and ensure a restful night of sleep once more. In addition to this, an oral appliance offers versatility in that it can be taken with you efficiently and comfortably wherever you go! For more information about your options and possible solutions for treating your OSA, do not hesitate to reach out to our team to learn more.

Learn More Today

Contact Sue Ellen Richardson, DDS in Houston, TX by calling 713-796-9600 to learn about the importance of addressing obstructive sleep apnea and how our office can help with a custom appliance.