Sleep Apnea
Oral Appliance vs CPAP: Which Sleep Apnea Treatment Fits You?
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4 min readBy Hiral Desai, DDS, MDS, D. ABDSM
Snoring or Sleep Apnea? Signs Your Dentist Can Spot
Snoring is common and often harmless. Sometimes it is a sign of sleep apnea, a condition that affects your health and energy. Here is how to tell the difference.
The short answer
Snoring alone is not always sleep apnea, but loud snoring with pauses in breathing, daytime tiredness or morning headaches can be. Dentists often see early signs such as tooth grinding, a scalloped tongue and dry mouth.
Key takeaways
- Pauses in breathing are a key warning sign
- Daytime tiredness and morning headaches matter
- Dentists can spot signs in your mouth
- A home sleep test is often the first step
What is the difference?
Snoring is the sound of air moving past relaxed tissue in the throat. Obstructive sleep apnea happens when that tissue blocks the airway, so breathing repeatedly stops and starts during the night.
What symptoms should I watch for?
- Loud snoring, or a partner noticing you stop breathing or gasp.
- Waking up tired after a full night.
- Morning headaches.
- Daytime sleepiness, or trouble concentrating.
What signs does a dentist see?
Dentists sometimes spot clues during routine visits, such as worn teeth from grinding, a scalloped edge on the tongue, a narrow airway or dry mouth. These don't diagnose sleep apnea, but they are a good reason to ask about testing.
Worried about your snoring? Book a sleep consultation.
Book a consultationHow do I get tested?
Only a sleep study can confirm sleep apnea. A home sleep test is often the first step, and some people need an in-lab study. We can refer you for either. If you are diagnosed, see Oral Appliance vs CPAP.
Sleep consultations in Tustin
Our office is at 604 E 1st St in the Larwin Square Shopping Center in Tustin, through SnoozX-AI, our dedicated sleep apnea center. Call (714) 505-9462.
Questions patients ask
Can thin people have sleep apnea?
Yes. Weight is one risk factor, but jaw shape, airway size and other factors matter too.
Is snoring harmful on its own?
Simple snoring is often harmless, though it can disturb sleep for you and your partner.
Can a dentist diagnose sleep apnea?
No. A sleep physician diagnoses it from a sleep study. Dentists can screen for signs and provide oral appliance therapy.
Don't guess, get tested
If your snoring comes with pauses in breathing or daytime tiredness, a sleep test gives you a clear answer.
Sources: NHLBI: Sleep Apnea Symptoms
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This guide is general information, not a diagnosis. Book a visit for advice about your own teeth.