If you feel like you’re sleeping through the night, but you’re waking up tired and staying fatigued throughout the day, you may be suffering from a sleep disorder called obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), the most common sleep condition. Left untreated, OSA leads to a host of health problems.
You may not think of your dentist’s office as a destination for sleep disorder treatment. However, a custom dental device called a snore guard is a proven and effective treatment option for OSA. At Lee Dental in Frisco, Texas, Clyde Lee, DDS, and Julie Lee, DDS, and their team work with you to custom fit your snore guard, so you—and your partner–can get a good night’s sleep.
Going without treatment for OSA can contribute to dangerous metabolic conditions and even heart problems. Read on to learn more.
Sleep apnea is a condition that causes repetitive lapses in your breathing all through the night. Each time you stop breathing, you’re deprived of oxygen. That’s when your innate survival mechanism kicks in to restart your breathing. This start-and-stop cycle disrupts your sleep and results in loud snoring, daytime drowsiness, fatigue, headaches, brain fog, and anxiety.
The most obvious complication of OSA is daytime sleepiness. You might find yourself nodding off throughout the day. This can affect job performance, increase the risk of on-the-job accidents and injuries, and make it risky to drive.
When you don’t sleep well, your mood could also be affected. You may find yourself losing patience easily, snapping at a loved one, or feeling depressed.
OSA can lead to the development of dangerous complications, such as:
Starting treatment right away for OSA decreases your risk of developing these serious health problems.
A snore guard resembles a sports mouthpiece, but instead of protecting your teeth from damage, the guard inches your jaw slightly forward and puts your tongue in a position that helps keep your airway open while you sleep.
To improve your sleep quality and reduce your risk of developing dangerous health problems, talk with the sleep and snoring guard specialists at Lee Dental in Frisco, Texas. Call or click to book your consultation today.
