Dr. Ann Abdulla, DDS

09/01/2026

Meet your palatopharyngeus muscle -- and other structures involved in snoring and obstructive sleep apnea...

08/29/2026

A meta-analysis pooling 13 studies found that alcohol consumption before bed measurably worsens sleep apnea, increasing the apnea-hypopnea index by nearly 4 events per hour on average and lowering oxygen saturation during sleep.

The mechanism is straightforward: Alcohol relaxes the muscles in the throat -- the same ones involved with airway collapse in people with OSA, making the airway even more likely to narrow overnight.

If you already have sleep apnea, the hours before bed matter as much as anything happening in the bedroom itself.

More info here:

Alcohol consumption was found to contribute to the lowest oxygen saturation observed among patients at risk of snoring and obstructive sleep apnea, with additional associations linked to worsening severity of snoring and impaired sleep architecture in select groups, according to study findings.

08/27/2026

08/20/2026

Something worth trying before anything else: pay attention to what position you fall asleep in. Research on sleep apnea consistently finds that breathing events are roughly twice as frequent and more severe when sleeping flat on your back compared to sleeping on your side, since gravity lets the tongue and soft tissue collapse back into the airway more easily. Some people with milder cases see real improvement just from training themselves to stay off their back, whether that's a body pillow, a position-alert device, or something as simple as sewing a tennis ball into the back of an old t-shirt. It won't fix everything, but it's a genuinely good place to start.

Read more here: https://tinyurl.com/4k4pvzp5

08/12/2026

Dry mouth is often a medication side effect, and it's more common than a lot of people realize. The clinical term for it is xerostomia, which just means your mouth isn't producing enough saliva to keep it properly moist. According to Cleveland Clinic, it affects roughly 1 in 5 people, most often as a side effect of antihistamines, decongestants, certain antidepressants, and several other common prescriptions.
It's more than an annoyance. Saliva plays a big protective role in your mouth, so when it drops off, cavity risk and gum problems tend to go up along with it.

If dry mouth has become a regular thing for you, it's worth mentioning at your next visit. There are simple ways to manage it once we know what's behind it.

Read more here:

Occasional dry mouth can happen when you’re dehydrated or anxious. But chronic dry mouth might indicate an underlying issue.

07/29/2026

Dental meridians are energetic pathways running through the body, connecting organs, glands, muscles, and even points along the spine. The concept comes from Traditional Chinese Medicine, and it also includes the teeth.

Take the upper wisdom tooth, for example. It connects with structures such as the right inner ear, right shoulder, heart, and several points along the spine. It's not a diagnosis, more a way of thinking about the energetic connections between mouth and body alongside the physical ones, and how they may influence organs all along that pathway.
To learn more, explore our interactive meridian chart,

There are excellent options for sleep apnea patients who cannot tolerate CPAP therapy. Let us help you find a sleep apnea treatment that works for you.