Is Snoring Affecting Your Oral Health?
There are various factors that can impact and affect your overall oral health, and believe it or not, snoring is one of them. Snoring is the result of a person’s airway being obstructed or narrowed during sleep. It can be an indicator that there is a larger issue at hand, such as reduced oxygen levels and sleep disorders like sleep apnea. Fortunately, the Contemporary Dental & Orthodontics team can help diagnose and treat your condition.
The Impact on Your Quality of Sleep
Snoring is one of the common side effects of sleep apnea, a dangerous sleep disorder that occurs when throat muscles relax and significantly block the oxygen getting to a person’s brain, causing them to gasp for air. It can also be an indicator that a person is not getting a restful night of sleep, or a sign that there is another underlying health issue. Because of this, it is important to bring chronic snoring to your dentist’s attention when you attend your routine visit. Both snoring and sleep apnea, when left unmanaged, can lead to cardiovascular problems such as high blood pressure, irregular heart rhythms, stroke, and even heart attack. This is due to the extra stress that is being placed on the blood vessels and heart due to a drop in oxygen levels. To avoid these complications, your dentist may recommend the use of an oral appliance to keep the airway open and benefit your oral health.
