Is Snoring Ruining Your Love Life? Time to See The Dentist

By Dr. Steven Freeman

If you have been banished to the guest room because when you snore your significant other thinks there is a 747 landing in the cul de sac, you might want to see the dentist.

The sleep disorder most associated with loud snoring is called obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Studies have found that it is associated with an increased risk of stroke, cancer and death.

But why go to the dentist? Because dental care impacts the entire body. It’s why I wrote the book Why Your Teeth Might Be Killing You (www.elitesmilesdentistry.com).

People have a tendency to think that the dentist is only about filling cavities and creating a beautiful smile. But your oral health can impact your physical well-being of your entire body. Sleeping disorders are frequently diagnosed and treated by dentists.

OSA wasn’t recognized as a condition until the 1960’s. Every year the number of sleep apnea cases increases due to increased awareness and the condition’s connection to obesity. Since populations are getting more obese, more people suffer from sleep apnea.

Causes of sleep apnea include:

• Excess weight/diabetes. The cheapest way for some people to cure sleep apnea is to lose weight.
• Smoking. Smokers are three times more likely to develop sleep apnea than non-smokers.
• Hypertension. OSA episodes produce surges in systolic and diastolic pressure that keep mean blood pressure levels elevated at night. In many patients, blood pressure remains elevated during the daytime, when breathing is normal.
• Asthma. Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the upper airway closes during sleep, which causes the reduction of airflow and oxygen to the lungs. This may lead to increased inflammation in the body, including the lungs.
• Family history. Hereditary factors such as body fat distribution, face and skull structure and nerve control of upper airway muscles may be found in the DNA of individuals with OSA. One study discovered that relatives of non-obese OSA patients had an increased frequency of abnormal breathing during sleep.

The need for a full night’s sleep cannot be overstated. Curing or remediating OSA can save someone from years of battling many health issues.

For years, people who had sleep apnea had only one choice – the “CPAP” which stands for “continuous positive airway pressure.” It looks like something a jet pilot would use at high altitude, and only 20% of people who are prescribed for it actually use it because it is so uncomfortable. However, there are other devices that are now available, including something called an “oral appliance therapy” that is more like a mouthpiece than a gas mask. It is recommended by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, an organization that includes dentists.