Loud snoring and daytime tiredness could mean sleep apnea. Learn the warning signs and how a custom oral appliance from a dentist can help.
Snoring is often treated as a joke, but loud, regular snoring can be a sign of a serious condition called obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The good news is that dentists can play an important role in treatment.
What Is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
In OSA, the soft tissues at the back of the throat relax during sleep and block the airway, causing breathing to stop and start many times a night. Each pause lowers oxygen levels and disrupts sleep, even if you don't wake up fully.
Warning Signs
- Loud snoring most nights
- Your partner notices pauses in breathing, choking or gasping
- Waking up tired even after a full night's sleep
- Morning headaches and dry mouth
- Daytime sleepiness and poor concentration
- Irritability or low mood
- High blood pressure
Why It Matters
Untreated sleep apnea is linked to high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes and road accidents due to daytime drowsiness. If you have these signs, it's important to get checked.
How Sleep Apnea Is Diagnosed
Sleep apnea is diagnosed by a doctor through a sleep study, which records your breathing and oxygen levels overnight.
How a Dentist Can Help
For snoring and mild to moderate sleep apnea, a dentist can make a custom oral appliance, also called a mandibular advancement device. It is worn at night and gently holds your lower jaw slightly forward, keeping the airway more open.
- Small, quiet and easy to travel with
- Custom-made from impressions of your teeth for comfort
- A good option for people who can't tolerate a CPAP machine
Dentists work alongside your physician or sleep specialist to make sure the appliance is right for you.
Lifestyle Tips That Help
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Sleep on your side rather than your back
- Avoid alcohol and sedatives before bed
- Quit smoking
Related treatment: read more about Sleep Apnea & Snoring Appliances in Mohali at Urja Dental Clinic.
Book a Visit at Urja Dental Clinic, Mohali
If you have any of these concerns, book a consultation at Urja Dental Clinic, S.S.S. (Bay Shop) 74, Sector 60, Phase 3B2, Mohali. We are easy to reach from Phase 3B1, Phase 5, Phase 7, Kharar and Chandigarh. Call +91 86999 69619 or +91 78890 93147, or book online.
