Do you find yourself waking often in the middle of the night gasping for breath? Are you chronically tired during the day and often fight to stay awake? Or has your partner told you that you snore loudly every night and often stop breathing in your sleep? At The Alaska Sleep Clinic we receive questions like these all the time. And like our patients, if you've answered yes to any of these questions, you could possibly be suffering from a medical condition known as Obstructive Sleep Apnea(OSA).

Did you know sleep apnea can cause dental problems adding to health issues? Saliva is the mouth’s first line of defense against tooth decay. It washes away food debris, neutralizes destructive acids caused by bacteria and helps keep the soft and hard tissues of the mouth in good condition.

Snoring is a common symptom of sleep apnea that causes dry mouth leading to oral bacterial infections or other dental issues.

Bruxism (aka grinding teeth) diminishes not only your quality of sleep but harms the enamel making your teeth vulnerable to tooth decay. It can also lead to TMJ (temporomandibular joint disorder) which causes migraines, oral numbness or pain, or pinched nerves. Add in any missing teeth and grinding can increase bringing frequent loss of sleep.

Don't Drive Drowsy

It can happen in a blink of an eye. All accidents happen quickly or they would not happen at all and the majority could have been prevented.

Before cell phones, it was reading or eating while driving as a distraction. Then texting was to blame. Now the endless activities, appointments, and around-the-clock work schedules bring more obstacles into driving carefully and responsibly.

Falling asleep at the wheel can also happen in a blink of an eye. You may feel sleepy and before you know it, your eyes are closed and you can hear and feel the rumble strips under the tires. But how can we become more aware of our surroundings? The first steps start with understanding why you are falling asleep.

There are numerous reasons why you feel drowsy and tired. But there are also numerous treatments and options available to educate yourself on how to be more alert and healthier.