Fed up of snoring all night and feeling tired the next day?
Many people snore, especially if they have a cold or the flu, but frequent snoring can be a symptom of a serious health concern; sleep apnoea.
Snoring occurs when the tissues at the back of the throat collapse and your jaw relaxes, which can lead to the throat being completely sealed off. This not only obstructs sleep but is also a serious issue that will need treatment.
Sleep apnoea is a sleep disorder that occurs when there are pauses or shallow breathing which occur in your sleep.
These pauses can last for a few seconds to a few minutes which can happen many times a night. In the most common form, this follows loud snoring. There may be a choking or snorting sound as breathing resumes. As the disorder disrupts normal sleep, those affected may experience sleepiness or feel tired during the day. Due to this, untreated sleep apnoea may also be responsible for poor performance in everyday activities, such as at work and school.
This interruption of breathing means that the brain – and the rest of the body – may not get enough oxygen.
What is sleep apnoea?
Sleep Apnoea Types
There are two types of sleep apnoea:
Obstructive sleep apnoea: This is the most common type. It is caused by a blockage of the airway, usually when the soft tissue in the back of the throat collapses during sleep.
Central sleep apnoea: In this case, the airway is not blocked, but the brain fails to signal the muscles to breathe, due to instability in the respiratory control centre.
What is continuous open airway therapy?
Who is the best patient for sleep apnoea?
What are the symptoms of sleep apnoea?
When someone is suffering from sleep apnoea, they might have one or several of these symptoms:
- Loud snoring, every night
- Gasping for air, snorting or choking during sleep
- Insomnia
- Pauses between breathing
- Excessive fatigue and lethargy during the day
- Poor concentration and memory
- Dry mouth or a sore throat in the mornings
What is the treatment for sleep apnoea?
If you have tried everything to help with your consistent snoring, Noosa Parade Dental Care offer a treatment which could help you.
Continuous Open Airway Therapy
At Noosa Parade Dental, we work with SomnoMed to provide you with the best possible treatment for your sleep apnoea. SomnoMed is the leader in COAT (Continuous Open Airway Therapy). To learn more about SomnoMed click here.
Noosa Parade Dental is the only provider of SomnoMed appliances within this particular region of the Sunshine Coast. We encourage you to book an appointment so we can get you (and your partner) back on track to getting a good nights sleep!
Often, your dentist will be able to pick up on whether you are suffering from this condition by examining the state of your teeth. A common sign of sleep apnoea is teeth grinding, also called bruxism which your dentist will easily be able to spot during a simple examination. We look for worn tooth surfaces, breakages and receding gums which are all signs of bruxism. If your dentist suspects sleep apnoea, he/she may recommend that you wear a device called a night guard.
Night guards
Night guards push the lower jaw forward. In this position, the muscles which collapse during sleep apnoea will tighten, preventing them from falling down. Over time, oral appliances can make the airway stronger and more rigid so that they can reduce or eliminate apnoea. Some are adjustable, allowing users to alter the position where the jaw sits when they’re in place.
Snoring and Sleep Apnoea Noosa
If you or your partner are experiencing sleep apnoea, contact us at Noosa Parade Dental and we will be more than happy to help. Who knew that a dentist could assist when it comes to a good night’s sleep!