SCOTTS VALLEY, SANTA CRUZ, CA
Although many people assume that snoring is harmless, it’s the most common symptom of a potentially dangerous sleep-breathing disorder called Obstructive Sleep Apnea or OSA. So when your partner complains about your snoring, it could be a sign that you are one among millions of Americans who suffer from sleep apnea. You may have heard about sleep apnea and how it causes sleep interruptions from breathing difficulties. However, you may not be aware of more severe concerns regarding this disorder. The Scotts Valley sleep apnea dentists at Ebrahimian Integrative Dentistry share on the blog today what snoring has to do with your health and what you should do about it.
Sleep Apnea is More Than Snoring
The term “apnea” refers to a breathing pause or cessation that can commonly occur in older or overweight patients but can also affect anyone, no matter their age, body type, or shape. Obstructive sleep apnea means that your body ceases to breathe due to an airway blockage. The blockage is typically the soft tissues in the throat that collapse into your airway or your tongue slides too far backward. The result is a critical oxygen loss vital to brain and organ function. Our sleep apnea dentists in Los Gatos explain that the blockage is the familiar sound known as snoring and why it’s a significant warning sign of OSA.
Additional sleep apnea symptoms:
- Anxiety
- Confusion
- Dry mouth
- Moodiness
- Sore throat
- Waking up with a headache
- Gasping or choking while asleep
- Chronic daytime fatigue, regardless of sleep hours
Our Santa Cruz airway dentists warn that avoiding sleep apnea treatment can directly impact your mental and physical health. For example, focus and concentration may become challenging, leading to poor work or school performance. Moreover, obstructive sleep apnea can increase your risk for severe, systemic, life-threatening health conditions, like depression, diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiac disease, and cognitive decline. Chronic sleep deprivation can also lead to unsafe driving conditions for you and other drivers, meaning you take a risk when you get behind the wheel of a vehicle if you have untreated sleep apnea.
How Ebrahimian Integrative Dentistry Can Help
Ebrahimian Integrative Dentistry is honored to offer our patients obstructive sleep apnea services. An official diagnosis must come from a certified sleep specialist, although our experienced Scotts Valley dentists that screen for sleep-breathing disorders can provide non-invasive, effective treatment. Most of our patients begin treatment with oral appliance therapy, a custom-designed oral appliance modeled from your teeth and mouth impressions to ensure a comfortable and snug fit to wear while sleeping. After placing the device in your mouth, it uses gentle pressure to move your lower jaw slightly forward and into an optimum resting position. Adjusting your jaw position opens your airway while you sleep so that you can stop snoring and finally get a restful night’s sleep.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea Dentists in Los Gatos, Santa Cruz, and Scotts Valley, California
Sleeping next to a snorer may be challenging as it can prevent you from sleeping. If you or your partner experience sleep apnea symptoms, schedule an airway screening in Scotts Valley with one of our knowledgeable sleep apnea dentists. Once we determine your sleep apnea severity, we can share our solution, that’s not a CPAP machine. Call Ebrahimian Integrative Dentistry at (831) 438-4411 or schedule an appointment online for your sleep apnea consultation that could lead to the best sleep of your life!
