Sleep apnea is a condition that causes interruptions in your breathing while you sleep. It happens when the muscles in your mouth and throat relax while you sleep, causing the soft tissue in the back of your throat to collapse and block your upper airway.

These periods of breathlessness can last from a few seconds to a few minutes, and they can occur hundreds of times a night, each time depriving your brain of oxygen.

Sleep apnea affects nearly 20 million Americans, but researchers believe that up to 90% of those who have it are still undiagnosed. If you suspect that you or a loved one may have sleep apnea, it is important to seek medical attention and undergo a sleep study. This test involves monitoring your breathing patterns and other vital signs while you sleep and can provide a definitive diagnosis.

Some of the symptoms of sleep apnea are:

• Snoring
• Insomnia
• Restless sleep
• Impaired memory
• Impaired sex drive
• Morning headaches
• Fatigue or irritability during the day
• Waking up gasping for air or choking

If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, schedule a visit with Brite Smiles Dental Care. Our dental professionals are trained to spot signs of the disorder and are prepared to treat you.

Untreated sleep apnea can harm your health in a variety of ways.

In the short term, sleep apnea can cause:

• Diminished quality of life
• Chronic anxiety and stress
• Impaired performance, alertness, and memory
• Increased likelihood of occupational injuries and auto accidents.

In the long-term, sleep apnea can lead to:

• Stroke
• Obesity
• Diabetes
• Arrhythmia
• Depression
• Heart disease
• Mood disorders
• High blood pressure
• Attention deficit disorder

Sleep apnea ultimately deprives your body of oxygen, which is essential to its proper functioning.

The first step in treating your sleep apnea is to conduct a sleep study. Our Apple Valley dental clinic offers take-home sleep studies that can be used to obtain a medical diagnosis from a board-certified sleep physician.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends treating severe sleep apnea with a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine, but for patients with mild or moderate sleep apnea, or those who can’t tolerate a CPAP device, Brite Smiles Dental Care offers an oral appliance called the Full Breath Solution™.

This sleep apnea oral appliance fits over your teeth and gently pushes your jaw forward, opening up your airway and keeping it from obstructing your airway while you sleep.

There are a variety of other oral appliances on the market that function similarly to the Full Breath Solution, but many of these can cause some uncomfortable side effects, like permanent bite and joint changes or TMJ and muscle pain.