Sleep Apnea: It's Not Just Snoring

Loud snoring is a common symptom of sleep apnea, but there’s a lot more to the disorder. You can even have sleep apnea without much noticeable snoring. Similarly, snoring loudly doesn’t necessarily mean you have it. For these reasons, seeking proper diagnosis and care is very important. Once you’re diagnosed with sleep apnea, treatment can not only reduce its symptoms but lower your risk for potentially serious complications, such as heart attack and stroke.

Our team of dentists at Swinney Dental, located in Tyler, Texas, creates custom devices that can help you manage sleep apnea, getting you back on track for more restful sleep and better overall health. Read on to learn more about this common condition and ways we can help.

Sleep apnea basics

When you have sleep apnea, your breathing repeatedly stops and starts while you snooze. It happens when the soft tissue in your throat blocks your airway. There are three forms of sleep apnea, including:

• Obstructive sleep apnea: involves relaxed throat muscles
• Central sleep apnea: involves improper brain signals
• Complex sleep apnea: is a combination of the other forms

In addition to loud snoring, sleep apnea symptoms may include:

• Difficulty staying asleep
• Dry mouth upon waking
• Episodes during which you completely stop breathing
• Excessive daytime grogginess
• Gasping for air while you sleep
• Headaches upon waking
• Increased appetite or poor appetite control
• Irritable moods
• Reduced physical activity, due to lethargy
• Unexplained weight gain

Sleep apnea treatment

Thankfully, snoring and other sleep apnea symptoms can diminish with proper treatment. If your symptoms are mild, your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes, such as losing excess weight, quitting smoking, and getting treatment for any allergies you may have. If these measures don’t suffice or your symptoms are more severe, treatment options include:

• Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device
• Another type of airway pressure device
• Nerve stimulation surgery
• Oral appliances
• Surgical tissue removal or jaw repositioning

Benefits of oral appliances 

Some people find CPAP devices uncomfortable or too cumbersome to use during sleep each night. Or your symptoms may be severe enough to require more than lifestyle changes, yet not intense enough to require something more invasive, like surgery. Oral appliance therapy offers many of the same advantages of a CPAP machine, typically with greater ease. These devices are small, portable, and simple to use, with most people adjusting fully their use within a few weeks. 

To learn more or find out if you’re a good candidate for an oral appliance for sleep apnea, call Swinney Dental or schedule an appointment using our online booking feature.