Better Smiles Begin with Sleep Apnea Treatments

One of the biggest oral health risks that individuals may suffer from and be completely unaware of is sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a disorder in which individuals suffer from interrupted breathing patterns while they sleep. The two most common forms of sleep apnea are obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea.

Obstructive sleep apnea arises when individuals have a blocked airway or are failing to receive enough air through their air passages. Central sleep apnea, however, is a result of brain signals not being adequately received. When your brain sends signals to your breathing muscles instructing them to breathe, there may be issues in which these signals are not reaching their target destination. This type of sleep apnea typically arises due to issues such as brain tumors, infections, stroke, or heart failure.

Treating sleep apnea is essential if you are at a higher risk for the symptom. Typically, men over the age of 40 are at the highest risk for sleep apnea. Furthermore, if you are overweight or have a genetic predisposition for any oral health conditions, you will also be likely to suffer from sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is commonly linked to a family history of the disorder, a nasal obstruction such as a deviated septum, allergies and sinus problems, large tonsils, a large tongue, or a small jaw in relation to your face.

For help treating sleep apnea, Drs. Richard Shamo and AJ Stosich at [practice_name] are here to assist you in every way we can. If you would like to set up an appointment to visit our oral and maxillofacial surgeons in [city], [state], please call us at [phone] to speak with our team.