All you want for Christmas is a good night’s sleep!

That can be difficult if the person sharing your bed is snoring like there’s tomorrow. That snoring also can be a clue that your spouse or significant other is suffering from obstructive sleep apnea.

This sleep disorder can lead to a number of other problems, some of which we will touch on below. Fortunately, we also can help treat this condition at our Charlotte, NC dentist office.

Call 704-766-8662 today to schedule a consultation at McNulty & Dancausse General Dentistry if you’d like to enjoy some more silent nights this holiday season.

What’s Happening?

Those loud and seemingly constant sounds coming from the other side of the bed occur because your partner is having a hard time breathing.

The airways of people with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) get narrower as they fall asleep. This is because their muscles relax, allowing tissues to gradually close their airway. Having large tonsils can make the issue worse.

Eventually, their airways become completely blocked. The snoring stops — temporarily — because the person with OSA has stopped breathing. These stoppages end when the person wakes up briefly (often without any memory of doing so) to take a few breaths.

This cycle can repeat hundreds of times every night, which is why neither you nor your partner is getting the deep, healthy sleep that you need and deserve.

Without healthy sleep, you can suffer from sleep deprivation. This can cause frequent bouts of daytimes sleepiness, which can be frustrating, embarrassing, and potentially dangerous. Researchers have found that people who are sleep deprived are more than twice as likely to be involved in car accidents compared to other drivers.

Breathing stoppages also increase stress hormones. That, in turn, can raise your partner’s risk of heart attacks, strokes, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease.

In short, treating sleep apnea is a great idea for your spouse and for you.

How Our Dentists Can Help

The first thing that should happen is a sleep test to verify if your partner has OSA or another sleep disorder. If they do have sleep apnea, then we can discuss treatment options.

Our doctors can design a custom-fitted oral appliance for your partner to wear while they sleep. This works by shifting the lower jaw forward slightly. Doing this helps to open the airways. This can allow your significant other to continue breathing, which means they can stay asleep longer and get the deep sleep they need and deserve.

For you, this means less snoring from the other side of the bed, so you too can get a healthy night’s sleep.

Ready to Feel Rested?

When you and your partner are getting the deep sleep that you need, you can wake up feeling rested and refreshed. That can make a big difference in how you feel throughout the day.

To learn more, schedule a consultation at McNulty & Dancausse General Dentistry. You can contact us online or call 704-766-8662.