If your family dentist sees signs of grinding and clenching in your mouth, they may ask you questions about your sleep habits and lifestyle. The purpose of these questions is to determine if you might have sleep apnea. Grinding of your teeth and clenching of the jaw are two signs that accompany sleep apnea. If your dentist suspects this, they may follow up on these indications by doing the following things.

Asking You More Questions

Sleep apnea falls into the category of sleep disorders, yet this sleep disorder is different from all the others. When you have sleep apnea, you stop breathing while you are asleep, which can also slow or stop your heart rate. The problem is that you do not even know that this is happening because you are sleeping. When you have this problem and do not treat it, you can have risks for major health problems. Therefore, if your dentist suspects that you have it, they will ask some questions. The dentist may ask if you snore as snoring is a sign of sleep apnea. The dentist may also ask if you feel tired a lot or have trouble staying awake during the day.

Referring You to a Sleep Study

You cannot know for sure if you have sleep apnea without going through a sleep study. During this study, experts track your vital signs and sleep patterns while you sleep through one night. From there, they can diagnose you with sleep apnea or they can rule it out. If you do not have it, you will not need treatment for it. If you do have it, you should get treatment.

Producing a Mouth Guard for You to Wear While Sleeping

The primary way that dentists treat confirmed sleep apnea patients is with mouthguards. Wearing a custom-made mouthguard while you sleep at night assists with keeping your breathing passage open. The result is that it prevents you from not breathing. It stops your heart from not beating. You end up sleeping well and feeling rested when you wake up, and you reduce the health risks of living with untreated sleep apnea.

Living with untreated sleep apnea is a health risk. Sleep apnea can increase your chances of heart problems and premature death, so you should treat it if you have it. To learn more about sleep apnea treatments, you can begin by reaching out to a local dentist.