March 23, 2026
Do you snore frequently or often wake up in the morning with a headache or feeling more drained than when you drifted off the evening prior? If so, you might have developed sleep apnea.
If you’re not resting well at night, it’s natural to worry you have a nightly disorder and, if so, to question how concerned you should be about your condition. You might even wonder whether it will resolve itself in time. Continue reading to learn more about it so you know what to expect!
Sleep apnea is a condition in which your breathing stops and starts throughout the night, interrupting the stages of your natural circadian cycle. That means your body isn’t receiving enough quality rest to rejuvenate itself, which can lead to symptoms like:
You might not think interrupted breathing at night is a big deal, but the longer your sleep apnea goes untreated, the more likely you are to experience worsening health concerns, such as cardiovascular disease, increased risk of stroke and cognitive decline, or develop type 2 diabetes.
If you’re unsure what caused your condition, you might assume that it’ll eventually clear up on its own. In some cases, there’s a chance that your disorder might improve by itself. For example, if you’ve been subconsciously grinding your teeth at night due to higher-than-usual stress levels, you might develop sleep apnea that could potentially resolve itself once the stressor passes.
But usually, this nighttime disorder requires treatment to reduce the frequency and severity of your symptoms.
If you’re concerned that you might have developed a problem with sleep apnea, it’s time to contact your dentist. Many offer surveys or tests, or work with local sleep specialists to help procure a diagnosis.
Then, they can provide a customized treatment plan to help improve your rest based on your unique circumstances and the severity of your condition. For example, they can design a customized oral appliance that you can wear, which helps position your jaw to keep your airways open while you snooze. This is sometimes combined with a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine, which helps reduce snoring and prevent airway collapse, so your sleep cycles are less likely to be interrupted.
If you’re not sure whether your restlessness is due to sleep apnea, you can learn more by contacting your provider for a consultation!
Patients at GoTo Sleep Center Scottsdale benefit from a team of experts who are passionate about helping them improve their oral and overall health by treating sleeping disorders. Their compassionate approach is combined with advanced technology to help you obtain a diagnosis and offer treatment plans to improve sleep apnea symptoms. You can request an appointment on the website or by calling the office at (623) 299-8799.
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