When it comes to strange side effects of sleep apnea, such as dry mouth and sore throat, you might not know what to make of these sensations. In addition, you may wonder if they’re normal and may even assume they’re too minor to ask us about. Rest assured – we are happy to answer all of your questions. Even the less challenging side effects are significant for us to address! It’s important to keep in mind that the sooner you schedule an appointment with us, the sooner we can provide effective treatment. In the meantime, let us help you decipher what’s happening in your body and explain how we can help.
About Your “Cotton Mouth”
When you suffer from sleep apnea, your body is not receiving enough oxygen while you sleep. As a result, patients tend to become “mouth breathers” during the night, which means you breathe through your mouth – a pose that prepares you to take in a big breath when your brain notices it is depleted of oxygen. This dries your saliva, so your mouth feels quite dry when you wake up.
About Your Sore Throat
If you suffer from sleep apnea, you likely snore excessively during sleep. This happens when your throat tissues relax and come into contact with one another. As you breathe, the tissues vibrate. This causes a noise we call snoring. In addition, when you quickly wake during your sleep apnea event, you try to take in a large amount of air at once. As a result, you irritate your throat tissues, leaving you with a sore throat in the morning.
What To Do
Contact us to schedule an appointment – we will examine your oral cavity and discuss your symptoms. If you suffer from sleep apnea, we will provide you with gentle yet effective treatment to alleviate your discomfort.
