Tongue, Tonsils and Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is serious. People with OSA experience disruption to normal breathing patterns during sleep caused by blockage of the upper airways. Being obese or male increases the risk but a study in Saudi Arabia highlighted an oversized tongue or tonsils as important factors too.
Key Messages
– Oversized tonsils or tongue increases the risk of obstructive sleep disorder
– Teeth imprints along the tongue can indicate a large tongue
– A dentist can spot a large tongue or tonsils while examining teeth
You may think that maintaining your smile is the most important reason to see a dentist but they can spot issues like a large tongue or tonsils while they examine your teeth too.
“The best time to identify signs of obstructive sleep apnea may not be at night while snoozing in bed, but while sitting in the dentist’s chair”.