Do You Feel Sleep Deprived?

Do you feel fatigued during the day, even though you believe you’re getting a good night’s rest? Does your sleeping partner complain that he/she can’t sleep because of your excessive snoring? Although obstructive sleep apnea is often marked by periods of severely loud snoring, many patients don’t realize they suffer from the sleep disorder unless someone else tells them, or until mysterious symptoms of sleep deprivation become present. Your Grand Prairie dentist, Dr. Quinn Smith, explores the phenomenon of extreme snoring and why you should worry if it indicates obstructive sleep apnea.

Have you ever wondered what snoring is, exactly? When you sleep at night, your mouth and throat tissues relax and can collapse into your airway. As the space grows smaller, the air squeezing between the tissues causes them to vibrate loudly, like air squeezing through the pinched opening of a slowly-deflating balloon. The inhibited breaths can lead to a decrease in oxygenated blood flow, and in extreme cases, the tissues can completely blockyour airway and force you to stop breathing.

Obstructive sleep apnea describes a condition where your oral tissues impede your breathing process, forcing your body to wake up slightly and regain its breath. As your airway closes, snoring grows louder until it stops along with your breathing. After a moment, your mind panics from the lack of oxygen, waking your body enough to breathe but not enough to consciously rouse you. Though you’re unaware of the episodes, they can occur hundreds of times a night and deprive your mind and body of necessary deep sleep.

Dr. Quinn Smith is a well-respected and highly experienced general, restorative, and family dentist in Grand Prairie, TX. He takes a patient-first approach that starts from the moment patients enter our Pecan Tree Dental office, and he offers a three-year guarantee on all dental work that he performs. Whether you and your family are new or returning patients, you can schedule a consultation or your next appointment with Dr. Smith by contacting us at (972) 262-5111.