Snoring can be quite a burdensome and embarrassing problem to have. If you snore, it may keep your partner awake at night. If it’s loud enough, it might keep the whole family awake at night. If you have been told that you frequently snore, you may want to check in with your dentist as snoring can be a sign of a sleep disorder. Obstructive sleep apnea is a sleep disorder where the soft tissue in your mouth and throat collapse blocking your airway. 

More about sleep apnea

When your airway is blocked, it can cause you to stop breathing. These breathing pauses cause a deprivation of oxygen into your blood and into your body. These pauses can also you to wake up, which disturbs your sleep. A lack of sleep can cause drowsiness, headaches, and even memory loss. More severely, sleep apnea can increase your risk for: stroke, heart disease, heart failure, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, and drowsiness-related accidents.

What does this have to do with your dentist?

A dentist can notice potential signs of sleep apnea. If you grind your teeth, it can be a sign that your body is gritting your teeth in in effort to wake you up to breathe. Your dentist can notice the wear and tear of teeth grinding. Sleep apnea can cause dry mouth, which can lead to increased tooth decay. Your dentist can customize a mouth guard that can prevent the soft tissues from collapsing into the airways.

If you do more snoring than sleeping, you may have sleep apnea

Dr. Burds can help you assess if your snoring is a sign of something serious. You can schedule a a consultation with Gateway Dental Group in Des Moines, IA, today at (515) 244-9565.