How Your Overall Health Can Point to Sleep Apnea

April 27, 2019

It is common knowledge that sleep is one of the most important factors in helping a person live a healthy, active life. Without enough high quality rest, you are at an increased risk of a number of serious conditions, including obesity, uncontrolled diabetes, cardiovascular problems, and more. But how can you achieve higher quality sleep and thus protect yourself from such problems? It begins with a visit to your dentist, who can use your overall health as a key factor in diagnosing airway problems and the resulting sleep apnea.

Provide a Thorough Medical History

Many individuals visit their dentist twice or more each year, which may be more often than they visit their regular physician. Thus, it is vital that you keep your dentist informed about any past or present medical issues you’re experiencing. Remember, your dentist is a medical professional, not just someone who looks after teeth. When they have a thorough understanding of your overall wellness, they’ll be in a better position to help you lead a healthier, fuller life.

Often, dentists discover that patients have health issues that may be related to airway obstruction. Airway obstruction, in turn, leads to sleep apnea, which can rob you of the high-quality rest you deserve and thus lead to a slew of problems throughout your body.

How Your Dentist Identifies Airway Problems

A dentist who is trained in sleep medicine will perform a thorough evaluation before they diagnose you with any airway issues or sleep apnea. In addition to recommending that you undergo a sleep study, they will carry out a physical exam and look for things such as:

  • A forward head posture. Many individuals compensate for airway problems by carrying their head in front of their shoulders.
  • Mouth breathing. Habitually breathing through the mouth indicates that the nasal air passages may not be functioning properly.
  • Asymmetrical nostrils. Nostrils that are not the same size and shape indicate a possible deviated nasal septum.
  • Venous pooling (dark circles around the eyes). Discoloration around the eyes is a major indicator of poor sleep, which is often times related to obstructive sleep apnea and airway issues.
  • Dental decay and orthodontic issues. Decayed teeth are often the result of mouth breathing. Bruxism, uneven wear and tear on the teeth, small dental arches, and other issues within the mouth can all point to airway problems.

After your dentist identifies airway issues and you receive an official diagnosis of sleep apnea, you can begin treatment. Something as simple as an oral appliance or CPAP therapy may be enough to free up your airway during sleep and allow you to breathe easily throughout the night. Thus, you’ll feel better on a daily basis and be at a lower risk of many long-term health problems.

Meet Dr. Mogell

Dr. Kenneth Mogell, a board-certified specialist in sleep medicine with over 10 years of experience treating sleep breathing disorders is the practice’s founder and primary practitioner. The practice has three South Florida locations: Melbourne, Vero Beach, and Boca Raton. To learn more about Florida Dental Sleep Disorders and Dr. Kenneth Mogell, contact our team at 844-294-7559. We accept Medicare, Tricare and most medical insurance!