Tired? Tell your dentist.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a commonly undiagnosed sleep disorder that affects an estimated 18 million Americans.¹ With sleep apnea, your breathing pauses or becomes very shallow, causing you to move out of deep sleep and into light sleep, resulting in poor sleep quality and increased fatigue. Untreated OSA can increase your risk of health problems including high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, heart failure, obesity, and diabetes.² It may also contribute to morning headaches, irritability, snoring, and dry mouth/sore throat.³

According to J. Michael Owen, DDS, FAGD, and Academy of General Dentistry spokesperson, “Dentists are often the first professional to become aware of a potential problem since they are usually in contact with their patients more frequently than are physicians.”

Communicating Sleep Apnea Symptoms to Your Dentist

So, if you’re experiencing any of the symptoms above, mention them to Dr. Leonard during your next visit. In combination with an oral exam, he may be able to determine whether you should be checked out by a sleep apnea specialist. Communicating these symptoms is especially important if you are at higher risk for sleep apnea. Risk factors include⁴:

• Excessive weight. People who are obese are four times more likely to develop sleep apnea.
• Neck circumference. Risk of OSA increases if a man’s neck circumference is 17 inches and larger, or if a woman’s neck circumference is 15 inches or larger.
• A narrowed airway. Airways may be narrow due to genetics, or enlarged tonsils or adenoids.
• Being male. Men are twice as likely to have sleep apnea.
• Being older. Sleep apnea occurs significantly more in older adults.
• Family history. If you’re family members have OSA, you may be at increased risk.
• Use of alcohol, sedatives, or tranquilizers. These substances relax the muscles in your throat.
• Smoking. Smokers are three times more likely to have OSA, possibly due to increased inflammation and fluid retention in the upper airway.
• Nasal congestion. Difficulty breathing through your nose increases the risk of developing OSA.

Set up a routine visit with Dr. Leonard by calling our office at 952-443-3368.

¹National Sleep Foundation. (2016). Sleep Apnea. https://sleepfoundation.org/sleep-disorders-problems/sleep-apnea
²National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. (2012). What is Sleep Apnea? http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/sleepapnea
³KnowYourTeeth. (Jan 2012). A Dentist’s Role in Sleep Apnea. http://www.knowyourteeth.com/infobites/abc/article/?abc=S&iid=330&aid=5511
⁴Mayo Clinic. (25 Aug 2015). Diseases and Conditions: Sleep apnea. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sleep-apnea/basics/risk-factors/con-20020286