• 17 JUN 21
    • 0
    Your Health May be at Risk Due to Snoring!

    Your Health May be at Risk Due to Snoring!

    Snoring is an everyday problem. If you snore, you and your partner may be deprived of a good night’s sleep. Snoring is more than just an annoyance; it can also be harmful to your health. 90 million Americans suffer from snoring and half of those may have sleep apnea. Scientific data suggests that people with sleep apnea are twice as likely to have heart disease and fatal heart attacks.

    Do you have insomnia, frequent headaches, foggy thinking or drowsiness during the day? If you snore, you probably have a dry throat and/or shortness of breath when you wake up. If any of these symptoms sound familiar, it would be prudent to make an appointment with Dr. Angela S. Evanson, DDS of Parker, Colorado. She is a highly skilled general and family dentist, and is experienced in helping correct this possibly dangerous health issue, which will help to improve the quality of your sleep.

    What Are the Health Risks Associated with Frequent Snoring?

    Snoring is usually caused when there is a narrowing of the airways while you sleep. Often, this is because you are breathing through your mouth, or your nasal passages and throat are obstructed.

    Following are a few of the health risks related to snoring and sleep apnea:

    • Poor Night’s Sleep – A lack of sleep leads to drowsiness during the day and can interfere with your ability to work, drive or think clearly, which also adversely affects your quality of life.
    • Strain on the Heart – Obstructed airways may result in higher blood pressure, which may cause enlargement of the heart, and an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.
    • Low Oxygen Levels in the Blood – Low oxygen can lead to constricted blood vessels in the lungs, which may lead to pulmonary hypertension.
    • Chronic Headaches – People with chronic daily headaches are almost twice as likely to be chronic snorers. This might be due to grinding your teeth or clenching your jaw, both symptoms Dr. Evanson is qualified to help you with.

    How Can My Dentist Help Me With A Snoring Problem?

    If you snore, contact Dr. Evanson for a free consultation! Experts agree that your dentist can set you on the path to overcoming your sleep disorders. Dr. Evanson will examine your mouth to look at the composition of your teeth, gums, throat, and jaw to identify the causes of your snoring.

    Clues to let your dentist know you snore:

    • Tooth grinding. Tooth grinding is often one of the first signs of sleep apnea. Worn tooth surfaces are a sign that you grind your teeth while you sleep. Grinding can cause tooth wear and breakage and an increased number of cavities because the force damages teeth, making them susceptible to cavity-causing bacteria.

     

    • Clenching your jaw. When you clench your jaw, it sends a message to your brain to wake up so you can take a breath. Grinding or redness in the throat (caused by snoring a lot) are also oral signs of sleep apnea.

     

    Depending on the cause and severity of your sleep apnea, Dr. Evanson can make a custom mouthpiece to help maintain an open airway while you sleep. These mouthpieces help your jaw stay in the proper position and help you stop snoring, which will also help to alleviate the symptoms of sleep apnea. Dentists are the only healthcare providers with the expertise to provide oral appliance therapy.

     

    If you recognize any of these symptoms in yourself, please contact our office by calling (720) 409-0008 or contact us online for an appointment. The lack of proper sleep impedes your quality of life and could put you at risk of heart attack, stroke or even death.

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