Do you often wake up with a headache, sore throat, dry feeling in your mouth? This may be due to problems happening while you sleep. When you snore, you may breathe with an open mouth. While these symptoms may seem like a minor problem, over time they can cause severe issues to your health. Dr. Stewart and his team in Livonia, MI can help discover the underlying problem and create a helpful treatment for your needs.
The Negative Effects Of Dry Mouth
This condition happens when you do not produce enough saliva. In some cases, it may be due to dehydration, stress, medications, or other factors. However, it can also be caused by obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). OSA disrupts your breathing as you rest, and patients with this disorder may breathe with an open mouth to try to inhale more oxygen. As a result, you may experience dry mouth.
In the morning, you may feel dehydrated, have a sore throat, or have bad breath. This side effect is also a concern because you may become more susceptible to developing cavities or gum disease. When you are unable to produce saliva, your oral cavity is not protected against bacteria that can cause these issues.
How To Know If You Have Sleep Apnea
One of the most common signs of this disorder is loud, persistent snoring. This may be severe enough to wake up your spouse or other family members. In addition to this, other symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, insomnia, or high blood pressure may be signs that you have a sleep disorder. You can also take our assessment to find out if you are at risk of this problem. If you find three or more of the statements to be true, you should schedule an appointment with your dentist for a diagnosis. OSA can cause several health problems if left untreated.
Getting Treatment For Your Disorder
If you believe you may have problems with snoring or OSA, it is time to see a specialist. At your appointment, they will examine your oral cavity and assess your other symptoms. This will help determine if you have OSA. To help treat this, they may create an oral appliance for you to wear while you rest. This is a guard that helps keep your airways open while you rest. As a result, you will snore less, breathe better, and have reduced symptoms. If the problem is more severe, a CPAP machine may be used instead. This is a machine that creates continuous oxygen flow for you through a mask.
Schedule An Appointment With Dr. Stewart
These problems could be symptoms of a sleep disorder. For diagnosis and treatment, schedule an appointment with Dr. Stewart in Livonia, MI today at 734-425-4400.
