Sleep apnea is a serious condition that occurs when the tissues in your mouth and throat block your airway during the night, cutting off your breathing for 10 seconds or more. Since this is often characterized by snoring, many people mistake sleep apnea for a mild nighttime annoyance. If you or your partner snore during the night, it’s important to understand sleep apnea and its symptoms to determine whether you should seek treatment. At Brite Clean Smiles, we can give you a restful night's sleep with snoring aids and sleep apnea treatment.
Snoring is caused by turbulent airflow while sleeping. When air cannot move through your mouth and nasal passages during sleep, it causes a vibration of the soft tissues in the mouth and your airway. When this tissue vibrates, you hear a snore. Many factors can contribute to snoring, including: age, obesity, smoking, sleep posture, and certain nasal and sinus problems.
Snoring is not the same as sleep apnea. However, most people with sleep apnea do snore regularly. Sleep apnea is much more serious and can cause issues like restricted oxygenated blood flow to the brain and heart, which may increase the risk of stroke and heart attack.
Snoring is a very common symptom of sleep apnea, but simply snoring is not enough to diagnose sleep apnea. Some other common signs of sleep apnea include:
If you recognize one or more of these signs, your snoring may be more serious than you think. Visit us right away for a sleep apnea consultation.
At Brite Clean Smiles, we offer snoring aids and oral appliances for treating sleep apnea. Both treatments use a plastic appliance designed to move the tissues of the nose, throat, and jaw into a better position for sleeping. Similar in shape to a night guard or retainer, these appliances are custom-made and provide relief both from snoring and other negative effects of sleep apnea.
Whether you snore, or you believe that your partner or significant other may have issues with snoring or sleep apnea, come to Brite Clean Smiles in Costa Mesa and Newport Beach for a diagnosis. At Brite Clean Smiles, we can help diagnose snoring and sleep apnea, and design an oral appliance that will help you get a restful, peaceful night’s sleep. Contact us at (949) 777-1005 to schedule your first appointment, or drop by our office at 488 E. 17th St., Ste. A-101, Costa Mesa, CA 92627.
