Snoring Appliances Winnipeg

You may not think that your sleep quality and oral health are related. But since your dentist examines your whole mouth, they’re often the first ones to spot the signs of a sleeping disorder. During a check-up, your dentist can identify and diagnose conditions such as sleep apnea.

At our Winnipeg dental centre, we provide dental appliances that improve your sleep quality and reduce the health risks associated with these conditions.

What are the Signs of Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a disorder characterized by periods of interrupted breathing while asleep. Those with this condition tend to snore at night due to obstructions in the throat and nasal passage. A few common symptoms include:

  • Disrupted breathing at night. The lack of oxygen may cause you to wake up repeatedly during the night. If you share a bed with someone, they may notice that you stop breathing during your sleep. 

  • Poor sleep quality. Even after a night of rest, you still feel tired throughout the day. When your breathing is interrupted, it compromises the quality of your sleep.

  • Dry mouth. Do you wake up with a mouth that’s as dry as a desert? It may be from sleeping with your mouth open, as most patients with sleep apnea do.

If you suffer from sleep apnea, the side effects can be dangerous—complications can even lead to death.

How Can Your Dentist Help?

Sleep apnea will not go away on its own. An effective intervention is to use dental appliances that promote proper breathing and positioning of the mouth. Benefits of these services include:

  • Better sleep quality
  • Fewer headaches
  • Reduced risk of breathing lapses while sleeping

One of the most common sleep apnea devices is a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) device. To use this appliance, patients wear a mask that’s connected to an oxygen machine. The machine sends oxygen through the patient’s mouth and nose; due to the pressure, it pushes past any obstructions in their airways.

In other cases, mouthguards can be beneficial for those with snoring and sleep apnea disorders. These dental appliances will reposition the jaw to allow for better airflow. For some patients, a splint can be used to properly position the tongue during sleep.

Sleep apnea devices can protect you from the dangerous side effects associated with this disorder. Depending on the type of sleep apnea that you have, different devices will be more effective. Our dentists can diagnose your issue and determine which treatment option will work best for you.

Contact Affinity Dental Centre Today

Are you concerned that you may be suffering from sleep apnea? Our dentists can meet with you to evaluate the condition of your mouth and look for symptoms of this disorder. When necessary, we can recommend sleep apnea devices that will help.

Our dentists can help you restore your sleep quality. To discuss snoring and sleep apnea treatment, contact Affinity Dental today.