Could better sleep change how you feel every day?

Sleep is when your body restores itself. When breathing is interrupted night after night, you may wake feeling tired even after a full night in bed — and that fatigue can follow you through work, family time, and everyday tasks.

We all likely snore at some point due to nasal congestion, sleep posture, and other everyday factors. Occasional snoring is often not a cause for concern. When snoring is chronic, though, it can keep you — and your partner — from the deep, restful sleep you both deserve.

Anything that disrupts your sleep and oxygen intake is serious. The pattern of sleeping and waking due to disordered breathing puts significant strain on your organs — and untreated sleep-disordered breathing is linked to elevated risks including high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, Type 2 diabetes, and impaired liver function.

Persistent daytime fatigue can also put you, your coworkers, and passengers at risk of on-the-job or road accidents. Taking symptoms seriously is an investment in your long-term health — not just quieter nights.

Chronic snoring does not only affect the person who snores. Primary snoring that persists can stress relationships with partners and other family members — when everyone sleeps better, everyone feels better.

Patients often notice irritability, mood changes, chronic headaches, and difficulty concentrating when restful sleep is out of reach. Restoring quality sleep can help you show up as yourself again at home, at work, and in the community.

Dr. Kurt W. Knechtel, DMD, effectively treats chronic snoring and sleep-disordered breathing at Longmont Dental — and he does not work in isolation.

In conjunction with providers such as family physicians and sleep medicine specialists, it is critical to determine the true nature of your snoring and other symptoms. From there, we can select the best therapy to resolve those symptoms, restore your quality of life, and help prevent dangerous complications.

Primary, irregular snoring that is not secondary to another medical condition is generally not a cause for concern. However, snoring can also be a sign of obstructive sleep apnea — a condition where relaxed tissues block the airway during sleep.

When this happens, sufferers may awaken abruptly with a jerk, gasp, and snort. Snoring linked to sleep apnea is generally louder than everyday snoring. You may also notice persistent daytime fatigue, a frequent sore throat or dry mouth, irritability, mood changes, chronic headaches, or cognitive issues. If this sounds familiar, it is worth a conversation with your care team.

When snoring is secondary to sleep apnea, patients may benefit from CPAP therapy — continuous positive airway pressure delivered through a mask connected to a machine. CPAP is a commonly prescribed treatment for obstructive sleep apnea, but some patients have difficulty tolerating it. For certain patients, oral appliance therapy may be an option after evaluation by a qualified medical or dental provider.

These custom oral appliances may also be appropriate for patients with primary snoring not attributed to another disease. When you slip the appliance into your mouth, your jaw is gently repositioned so oral tissues are less likely to block the airway as you sleep.

If you suspect sleep apnea, take action today. Delaying treatment can lead to severe, irreversible health consequences.

At Longmont Dental, we offer customized solutions to manage snoring and sleep apnea. Call (720) 815-4733 and schedule an appointment today — serving Longmont, Boulder County, and Northern Colorado.