What is Sleep Apnea

SLEEP APNEA

It’s amazing just how much a good night sleep can affect your mental and physical well being. It’s even more amazing just how many people have undiagnosed sleep apnea! According to one of the leading sleep apnea organizations, “It is estimated that 22 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea, with 80 percent of the cases of moderate and severe obstructive sleep apnea undiagnosed.” That means 22 million americans stop breathing at night, depriving their brain of oxygen which can lead to headaches, poor sleep, heart problems, and in some cases even death.

So you may be asking yourself, how do I know if I have sleep apnea? Am I or my spouse part of the 22 million Americans? Well that’s a great question! Let’s take a deeper look.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

The most obvious sign that you may have sleep apnea is, you guessed it, snoring! However, sleep apnea doesn’t always equal snoring, especially in younger people.

Some of the other signs and symptoms of sleep apnea include:

  • Gasping for air during sleep
  • Morning headaches
  • Clenching or grinding of the teeth
  • Snoring
  • Dry mouth
  • Difficulty staying awake
  • Irritability
  • Difficulty paying attention
  • Excessive daytime sleepiness

TREATMENT OPTIONS

At Smiles of Sarasota, we have a variety of conservative treatment options to help you get a better night sleep.

Our most popular option is what’s known as a mandibular advancement device, or in other words, an oral appliance.

These appliances are handmade and unique to you. 

If you’re looking to treat your sleep apnea, give us a call today to get scheduled.