If you’re the one who’s keeping someone up at night with your snoring then this article isn’t for you. This is for all those husbands, wives, and Sleep partners being kept awake at night because the person next to them is snoring so loudly it’s impossible to get a good night’s rest. Wouldn’t you do anything to stop the snoring?

It’s a frustrating and exhausting situation, isn’t it? If you’re noticing a lot of snoring on a regular basis then there could be something else going on that your partner needs to know about: Sleep Apnea. We’ve treated plenty of sleep apnea cases at The Dentist House, and we want to help you recognize the signs – sleep apnea can be dangerous!

What Is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea isn’t just about snoring – that’s only a common sign. Sleep apnea itself is about the airway being blocked at night, which doesn’t only cause snoring, but also interruptions in breathing. If your sleep partner snores loudly and pauses completely once in a while then it’s possible they may be suffering from sleep apnea.

When the tissues in the neck relax during sleep it can put a lot of pressure on the airway. This is made worse when people sleep on their back – the jaw falls open and creates even more blockage. Partial blockage is what causes the rattling sound of snoring. The air is trying to get through and has to pull the throat open to do so.

When breathing stops completely it’s called an “apnea.” These episodes can last anywhere from 10 to 20 seconds, and can happen repeatedly during the night.

Who’s At Risk For Sleep Apnea?

It can be tricky for some people to admit they have a health problem, which is where you come in. If you’re concerned that your sleep partner might have sleep apnea then they may have some of these risk factors as well:

• Being male
• Being overweight
• Being over the age of 40
• Women who are post-menopausal have the same chances as men
• Having a large neck (for men, a circumference of greater than 17 inches. 16 inches for women)
• Having a family history of sleep apnea
• Suffering from acid reflux/GERD
• Still having tonsils
• Having a large tongue
• Having a small jaw
• Having a narrow neck
• Chronic sinus problems
• A deviated septum or any other physical abnormality of the sinuses
• Allergies

You probably know if your bed partner is affected by some of these conditions, and if they are then it’s worth having their snoring problem checked out at our Ridgecrest office! Without treatment sleep apnea can lead to:

• Diabetes
• Heart disease
• Increased stroke risk
• High blood pressure
• Depression
• Headaches

How We Treat Sleep Apnea

If you’ve finally convinced the person you love to come to us for sleep apnea treatment we’ll start with a full exam. If it seems like sleep apnea may be a problem we’ll schedule a sleep test for them so we can get expert results back from a professional sleep research company.

Once we know that they have sleep apnea treatment can be incredibly simple. We use custom mouthguards to treat sleep apnea, and they’re successful for almost all patients! In rare cases mouthguards may not work, which means they would need a CPAP machine, but that’s always a last resort as far as we’re concerned!

The sleep apnea mouthguards we craft are designed to hold the jaw in a comfortable position and to keep the tongue from interfering with breathing. They’re comfortable, low profile, and provide immediate results. Not only will the sleep apnea stop, but the snoring will too!

If it turns out your sleep partner doesn’t have apnea, don’t worry – we can still use a nighttime mouthguard to treat their snoring as well. Our goal for snoring and sleep apnea treatment isn’t just to ensure your partner’s continued health, but also to ensure your sanity!

Talking About Sleep Apnea Is Step #1

If you’re concerned about your loved one’s health we encourage you to have a conversation about sleep apnea. Try to leave out your frustration at constantly dealing with their snoring. Instead, focus on the potential health effects of apnea and you concern for their long-term wellbeing.

Once you’ve helped them understand the potential health risks of their problem give The Dentist House a call. The next step after admitting there might be an issue is finding out if it’s really there. You can reach our Ridgecrest office at 760-657-4049 or you can request an appointment online. We look forward to helping you and those you love!