Do you suffer from daily headaches that occur right after you wake up?
Headaches make it hard to focus and cause patients to feel tired and irritated. They can create a poor quality of life. Chronic morning headaches may be a clue that you have sleep apnea.
Patients with headaches from sleep apnea may find that over-the-counter pain medications offer little to no relief. Many patients are unaware that your dentist can treat your sleep apnea without a bulky CPAP machine.
Fuller Dental offers innovative treatment for patients diagnosed with sleep apnea in Burlington, NC. This treatment is less invasive than a CPAP machine and is easy to use. In addition to treating headaches, we also treat patients’ common dental concerns daily.
What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a common and complex health problem that affects millions of Americans. It is a serious medical condition that affects the oral and overall health of the patient. It can cause oral and systemic health issues that can impact the quality of life.
Sleep apnea occurs when the airway is blocked during sleep, and oxygen flow stops quickly. Patients with sleep apnea wake to gasp for air, snore loudly, and experience chronic fatigue. They are unable to enjoy a full restful night of sleep.
If you wake suddenly gasping for air, wake with chronic headaches, have trouble focusing, fall asleep during the day, or snore loudly, you may be experiencing this type of sleep disorder. Chronic fatigue, depression, and irritability are also symptoms.
How does sleep apnea cause headaches?
Excessing oxygen flow to the brain at night can lead to these headaches. Patients wake in the morning feeling tired and restless and often have severe headaches that may interrupt their ability to conduct their daily routine.
How can I treat headaches caused by sleep apnea?
Dr. Peterson of Fuller Dental is a member of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. He stays informed on all the latest research and treatment for sleep apnea and other sleep disorder. Dr. Peterson is always at the forefront of dental technology and offers sleep disorder treatment. Oral sleep devices work very well and offer a discreet treatment option by Fuller Dental.
Most patients can handle oral appliances very well. They have a high compliance rate among patients, which leads to a decrease in both symptoms and health risks. Your oral sleep appliance is like a mouth guard you wear while sleeping.
Repositioning the jaw for natural airflow, the oral appliance reduces or eliminates the continual cessation of breathing, leading to symptoms and health problems.
An oral sleep mouthpiece will reposition the jaw to allow for natural airflow. This will reduce the number of times the patient stops breathing while asleep. The patient will experience fewer symptoms and health issues, including headaches. The oral device is small, portable, and easy to use. Patients can still speak and drink water when it is in place.
Headache FAQs
It can be surprising that headaches are due to dental problems. Learn more by reading the answers to these commonly asked questions.
What dental problems can cause headaches?
Both sleep apnea and TMJ can cause headaches. TMJ headaches occur when the tension from your jaw joint spreads throughout your face and head. Sleep apnea headaches are due to interruptions in your breathing while asleep, so the brain isn’t getting enough oxygen. Both are most common to experience when you wake up in the morning.
What does a sleep apnea headache feel like?
Sleep apnea headaches are ones that patients experience upon waking for at least 15 days out of the month. They feel like a pressing, not pulsing, pain that you feel across both sides of your head. They can last for up to four hours after you’ve woken up.
What does a TMJ headache feel like?
TMJ pain usually starts right around where the joint is, near your temples. But it can quickly spread and can turn into daily migraines. TMJ pain doesn’t limit itself to your head and face, either. You may experience pain and tension throughout your neck and shoulders as well.
Can TMJ cause constant head pressure?
If your muscles are constantly contracting, you may experience a tight feeling in your face and head. This is called a pressure headache. But TMJ can cause a few different types of headaches. A pressure headache is just one of them.
Can sleep apnea headaches turn into migraines?
Yes, a hypoxia headache can mimic the symptoms of migraines and other headaches. Cluster headaches are another type that’s commonly associated with sleep apnea headaches. It can be hard to recognize that your headaches are caused by sleep apnea because you assume it’s another type of headache instead.
Can a dentist treat my headaches?
Determining if a dental issue is causing your headaches can be difficult. One of the big tells is if you’re primarily feeling pain when you wake up. Pain behind your eyes can also indicate that it’s a dental problem. If you’ve had trouble with a tooth recently, that can cause a headache if a nerve has been pinched or triggered. It’s always better to try and contact us so we can see for sure.
Schedule A Dental Exam Today
If you or a loved one experiences headaches almost daily, contact your Fuller Dental dentist. Seeking treatment for chronic headaches and sleep apnea as soon as possible can prevent further health complications. Give us a call or request an appointment online today.