Good day,
Sleep apnea happens when the tongue falls back and closes the airway or when the throat muscles relax during sleep and closes the airway. These are two reasons among other reasons for sleep apnea.
As a dentist we can diagnose sleep apnea as it leaves teeth mark on the tongue when the brain pushes the tongue away ( that is when we make snoring sound) to open the airway.
When brain detects too much CO2, it tells the heart to pump faster or harder to supply oxygen ( hence heart disease) and soon realizes that it does not help. ( As there is no air coming in and we are choking.) That is when brain pushes the tongue away to open the airway and hence the teeth mark on the tongue!
We are asleep but brain does not get enough sleep. This makes us sleepy during the day and we might fall sleep behind the wheels and that is how accidents happen.
Heart disease, stroke, hypertension, diabetes, obesity and cognitive decline are some of the devastating health consequences of untreated sleep apnea.
Sleep Apnea can easily be treated by either CPAP or mouth devices.
The device we make for you will move the bottom jaw forward and that keeps the airway open.
Thank you for reading this.
We are here to help. Do give us a call.
Dr. Khoshand
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