Sleep Apnea And Its Connection To Your Oral Health

Sleep Apnea happens when breathing stops and starts throughout the night. The periods when breathing stops can be very damaging to a person’s health and can lead to serious long-term health issues. Sleep apnea experienced over a long period of time prevents restful sleep, preventing a person from reaching a deep state of REM sleep, causing them to be tired, irritable and lack full attentiveness and alertness.

While there are many symptoms of Sleep Apnea the most common symptom is loud snoring. Although, not everyone who snores has sleep apnea one of the determining factors is if the snoring is loud enough to wake up someone sleeping in the same room with a snoring person. A nightly reoccurrence of snoring may be a key symptom that the person may be suffering from sleep apnea. Noticeable signs that a person stops breathing, gasps for air, or suddenly and abruptly wakes up breathless are other sign of obstructive sleep apnea.

If you are suffering from sleep apnea you may have a tendency to breathe more through your mouth. This will greatly increase the likelihood of suffering from dry mouth, a condition that creates an environment in your mouth where bacteria can grow more rapidly causing a higher probability of gum disease and tooth decay. Additionally, mouth breathers may also be more likely to grind their teeth or to chew on the inside of their mouth while sleeping. Dr. Hogan can conduct an oral examination to see if you have sleep apnea, and if, may order a more comprehensive sleep study to confirm the findings.  One a definitive diagnosis has been determined, one treatment option is to design a set of custom mouthguards designed to reposition your jaw to open you airway and to prevent you from grinding your teeth or chewing in your sleep.

If you feel you may be suffering from sleep apnea, schedule an appointment today with Dr. Kevin Hogan for a sleep apnea evaluation.  Sleep apnea is a serious condition and can lead to numerous dental and medical issues, and in the most severe cases, can even cause death.  Dr. Hogan is committed to helping you maintain optimum oral health for the continuing health of your body as a whole.

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