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Not long ago, sleep apnea gained attention as the reason for very loud snoring. For the most part, it appeared as an inconvenience and a motivation for your partner to go to another room to sleep.
Recent research shows that sleep apnea is a larger health concern than many people know. Aside from impacting the lives of more than ten million people, sleep apnea links to significant health problems. Our dentist in Northridge is an expert in the dental signs of sleep apnea. Often, our patients never considered the possibility of sleep apnea until our dentist explained the findings. Issues such as teeth grinding also called bruxism, and dry mouth are two very common indicators that a patient has sleep apnea.
A patient who has sleep apnea temporarily stops breathing during sleep. When this happens, the brain sends signals to wake the person, so oxygen deprivation does not occur. The cycle of sleeping and waking continues all night every night. This results in chronic sleep deprivation for the patient which takes a physical toll as well.
Our sleep apnea dentist in Northridge cautions patients to take sleep apnea seriously because it has many ways to impact health negatively.
Health impacts of sleep apnea:
• Temporomandibular joint problems from chronic teeth grinding
• Cracked teeth or worn tooth enamel because of teeth grinding
• Headaches as a result of teeth grinding
• Tooth decay and mouth infections due to dry mouth
Patients with sleep apnea also are prone to various issues brought about by sleep deprivation. These include:
• Obesity
• Depression
• Heart disease
• Diabetes
• Chronic exhaustion
While a dental professional cannot give an official diagnosis of sleep apnea, we offer several treatments that can help sleep apnea patients overcome this disorder and begin to enjoy restful nights of sleep.
If you notice dry mouth and throat upon waking, morning headaches that may radiate from the jaw or temples, or constant sleepiness even after a full night of sleep, please mention your symptoms to our dentist. We can refer you to a sleep professional who can test for sleep apnea.