The Dangers of Sleep Apnea

Do you snore? How about someone in your family? Snoring is pretty common, and most people chalk it up to an annoying sleep habit like hogging the covers. Actually, snoring is connected to an inability of the body to take in enough air during sleep, which can lead to a condition known as sleep apnea. 

If you have sleep apnea, your health could be at risk.

At Ueno Center Dental Specialists, we take both oral and sleep health seriously. We understand the ways in which the two are intrinsically linked. Jeremy K. Ueno, DMD, and the other members of our team work to ensure our patients are able to make this connection so they avoid the dangers of sleep apnea.   

Sleep apnea 101 

You may already know that sleep apnea occurs when your airway is blocked as you sleep. As a result, you don’t get the air you need. Often, people with sleep apnea don’t wake up or notice it.

With sleep apnea, your breathing may stop briefly and begin again many times during the night. Most people who have sleep apnea often feel tired, even after getting what they thought to be a good night’s sleep. But this isn’t the only problem with the disorder. 

The dangers of sleep apnea and how it relates to oral wellness

You might be wondering what sleep apnea has to do with your oral health. Dentists are sometimes the first to notice the signs of sleep apnea. A number of oral health issues — such as night grinding, periodontal disease, TMJ disorders, and dry mouth — can be connected with sleep apnea. 

In fact, dentists who notice any of these issues in their patients might be the ones to point out that sleep apnea could be a problem and get their patients into treatment before the problem worsens. 

These are some of the more noticeable issues that sleep apnea causes that could set off alarm bells before even worse problems show up. 

For example, sleep apnea can put you at a greater risk for the development of a number of issues that run the gamut from annoying to severe. They include:

• Feeling unrested 
• Headaches 
• Brain fog
• Depression and anxiety 
• High blood pressure
• Stroke 
• Gastrointestinal distress 
• Diabetes 

You might brush off some of these issues without understanding the central source, but when your dentist notices them, they can usually connect the dots. Then it’s our job to help you recognize the ways sleep apnea is affecting you. 

Avoiding the dangers of sleep apnea

Consider this: Do you snore? Do you often find yourself feeling tired even after seemingly getting enough sleep? Do you notice any of the symptoms above as well as a tendency to wake up often during the night? 

If so, it might be time to learn if you have sleep apnea and how to manage the problem before it worsens your health. 

Treatments may be as simple as:

• Quitting smoking and drinking
• Eating heart-healthy foods
• Exercising regularly

But, more likely, you may need an oral appliance or a CPAP machine, which delivers a continuous stream of pressurized air to keep your upper airway open. 

Your dentist can fit you with one of a couple types of oral appliances that either pull your lower jaw and tongue forward or stabilize your tongue. 

Get treatment for sleep apnea

You shouldn’t live in fear of the dangers of sleep apnea, which are many and can create problems for your oral, physical, and mental health. We’re happy to screen you for anything that may be obstructing your healthy sleep and to provide you with a plan going forward. 

Make an appointment today at our Campbell, California, office. We’re just a phone call away, or you can make your appointment online. However you choose to reach out, we look forward to meeting you.