There are people who spend years thinking they simply “sleep badly”. They wake up tired, with the feeling of not having rested, or they are even told that they snore a lot or that they stop breathing during the night. Many times it is not given importance until it starts to affect daily life and, when going to the doctor, they discover that they suffer from sleep apnea.
What is sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea is a disorder in which breathing is repeatedly interrupted while sleeping. These pauses can last a few seconds and be repeated many times during the night, which means that sleep is not deep or restorative.
The most common form is obstructive sleep apnea. In this case, the airways become narrowed or blocked because the throat tissues relax too much during sleep. This causes air not to pass correctly and the body has to briefly “wake up” to breathe again.
There is no single cause. It can be influenced by being overweight, age, alcohol or tobacco consumption, and even the shape of the jaw or the position of the tongue. Therefore, in some cases, the problem is not only medical in general, but is also related to the oral and dental structure.
Symptoms of sleep apnea
Symptoms can appear at night and also be noticed during the day.
- Loud and constant snoring: These are one of the most common signs, especially when they occur every night.
- Breathing pauses: These are often detected by another person, since the person affected is not always aware of them.
- Tiredness upon waking: Even if you have slept for many hours, rest is not deep.
- Daytime sleepiness: A feeling of sleepiness even in active situations such as working or watching television.
- Morning headache: It can appear due to lack of oxygen during the night.
- Dry mouth or throat: Very common in people who breathe through their mouth while sleeping.
- Concentration problems or irritability: Poor rest directly affects daily performance.
Treatment for sleep apnea
Treatment depends on the type of apnea and the severity of each case. Not everyone needs the same approach, which is why diagnosis is key.
Lifestyle changes
In mild cases or as support to the main treatment, some habit changes are recommended: losing weight if necessary, avoiding alcohol at night, not smoking, and maintaining regular sleep schedules can help reduce apnea episodes.
In addition, sleeping on your side instead of on your back can also improve breathing in some people.
Treatment with positive pressure devices
One of the most widely used treatments in moderate or severe cases is CPAP. It is a device used during sleep that delivers pressurised air through a mask, preventing the airways from closing.
Although it may require an adaptation period, it is one of the most effective treatments for maintaining stable breathing throughout the night.
Dental treatments
In some patients, especially in mild or moderate cases, the dentist can play an important role.
Mandibular advancement splints are custom-made devices that are placed in the mouth at night. Their function is to slightly move the jaw forward to keep the airway more open and allow air to pass more easily. This type of dental treatment can help reduce snoring and improve sleep quality, as long as it is indicated by a professional after an evaluation.
It is also important to consider that certain oral factors can influence sleep apnea, such as a recessed jaw, a large tongue, or bite abnormalities. For this reason, in many cases, joint work between sleep medicine and dentistry is key.
See a professional to treat sleep apnea
When there is suspicion of sleep apnea, the most important thing is not to ignore it. A proper and timely diagnosis makes it possible to determine which treatment is most appropriate in each case.
At Gross Dentistas we assess these types of problems from a comprehensive approach, especially when there are factors related to the mouth and jaw position. For this reason, we work with mandibular advancement splints and study each case individually.
As a dentist in Málaga and Torremolinos, at Gross Dentistas we look for tailored solutions for each patient, with the aim of improving their rest and quality of life in a real and simple way.
Ortodoncista especializada en el sistema de ortodoncia invisible, extensa trayectoria profesional y un gran número de pacientes satisfechos con los resultados obtenidos tras la finalización de su tratamiento.
