Sleep apnea is a dangerous sleep disorder that interrupts breathing during sleep. When a person is struggling with this condition, he or she often experiences the primary sleep apnea symptoms, like loud snoring and persistent waking up throughout the night.

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What is sleep apnea?

This disorder is characterized by intermittent, stop-and-start breathing during a person’s sleep. These intermittent stops in breathing mean oxygen is not reaching the brain. The brain automatically prompts the body to wake itself up during these lapses in oxygen, which is why the sleep apnea disorder often causes a person to wake up and gasp for air throughout the night. This is what makes sleep apnea such a dangerous disorder that requires professional attention!

Sleep apnea symptoms:

  • Loud snoring
  • Waking up throughout the night
  • Gasping for air
  • Waking up with a dry mouth
  • Waking up with a headache
  • Irritability throughout the day
  • Difficulty paying attention throughout the day
  • Excessive sleepiness throughout the day

If you experience any of the sleep apnea symptoms above, it’s likely that sleep apnea is affecting your quality of life.

You deserve to wake up feeling refreshed and well rested every morning! And your partner deserves to sleep soundly without being woken up by loud snoring throughout the night! (Anyone who has slept next to someone with sleep apnea knows exactly what we mean.)

Sleep apnea causes and risk factors:

  • Excessive weight/obesity
  • Poor orthodontic bite condition
  • Sleeping on the back
  • Narrow airways
  • Consuming alcohol before bed
  • Asthma
  • Genetic predisposition to sleep apnea

Sleep apnea causes and risk factors can help you determine whether you’re experiencing a sleep apnea disorder.

Sleep apnea treatment:

As sleep apnea is often caused by narrowed airways, expanding the airways proves as an effective sleep apnea treatment. Airway orthodontic treatments work to expand the roof of the mouth, which widens the airways. Orthodontic appliances, such as palatal expanders, expand the palate of the mouth to treat the source of the obstruction that causes sleep apnea.

Making positive lifestyle changes could treat your condition, depending on its severity. Losing weight and breaking habits like smoking or sleeping on your back could lessen your sleep apnea symptoms.

Questions About Treatment for Sleep Apnea:

Depending on your unique orthodontic condition, Dr. King & Dr. Welch may suggest a form of braces or they will refer you to a dentist specializing in sleep apnea. Invisalign clear aligners may be used to widen the palate, if your specific condition permits.