Have you ever visited your dentist for a sleep apnea examination? Sleep apnea is a common oral health condition that arises due to irregular breathing patterns while you sleep. Numerous factors can lead to sleep apnea, including how you sleep at night, genetic factors, family history, and gender.
Obstructive sleep apnea is a form of sleep apnea that typically arises if your airway is blocked while you sleep. If you’re laying incorrectly while asleep, you may cause your airway to restrict. However, not all sleep apnea conditions are due to an obstructed airway. Central sleep apnea arises when your breathing muscles do not contract and expand as expected while you sleep due to missing or broken signals sent from your brain. Both forms of sleep apnea are serious and should be treated if present.
If you have a family history of sleep apnea, you are at an increased risk for the condition as well. Furthermore, various risk factors include a deviated septum, a large tongue or tonsils, and even sinus or allergy problems. Males over the age of 40 tend to be at the highest risk for sleep apnea. If you think you may be suffering from sleep apnea, or display numerous risk factors for it, visit us for a complete exam.
If you think you have sleep apnea, please call Kirti Tewari Dental PC so we can get you in to see Dr. Kirti Tewari and our team as soon as possible. Our office is located in Bronx, New York, and we can be reached at 718-547-7570. We look forward to improving your smile.