Sleep apnea, which affects over 8 million Americans and up to 21 percent of children, is on the rise! Sleep apnea problem is characterized as a sleep disorder. It entails brief, but repeated disruptions during your normal breathing sleep cycle. While it is considered a deadly condition, it is also drawing attention for its link to oral health.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE SLEEP APNEA TYPES?
The most frequent of these is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which is caused by a blocked air passage. When you have obstructive sleep apnea, one of your airways is obstructed by the tongue collapsing on your soft palate. The space for air to pass through is affected by the back of the throat. Central sleep apnea, which is considered a rare form of sleep apnea, entails the brain’s failure to signal one’s respiratory muscles to continue breathing. The experience of the 2 combined is referred to as complex sleep apnea.
Whether one type or the other, sleep apnea is a reaction of the brain alerting one to the lack of air forcing a person to awake and breathe. The sleeper may not remember anything at all, but the process itself might take only a few seconds and can take place hundreds of times every night. We require uninterrupted sleep for optimal rest, yet the loss of this type of sleep can have harmful consequences.
HEALTHY SLEEP = HEALTHY SMILES!
We all require adequate sleep to feel our best, so if you’ve been suffering from sleep apnea symptoms, your next dental visit may set you on the road to a better quality of life. Visit our office today or give us a call to schedule an examination, and we’ll be able to tell if sleep apnea is the cause. A better night’s sleep and a healthier smile are in your future! Everyone requires decent sleep to feel their best, so if you’re experiencing any of the symptoms of sleep apnea, now is the time to schedule an appointment.
YOUR BEST ALLY, YOUR DENTIST
Dental side-effects of sleep apnea are so frequent that your dentist could be the first to identify and notice them. Regularly scheduled check-ups might be beneficial to your health in addition to your teeth. Patients may benefit from treatments including CPAP machines and dental devices that push the lower jaw forward while you sleep.
