We all know that falling asleep behind the wheel is extremely dangerous and can even be deadly. But did you know that operating a vehicle while tired can be just as dangerous, even if you’re still awake? It’s true. Drowsy driving can cause mental impairment just like drunk driving does. In fact, 24 hours of sleep deprivation has the same effects on your body as a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.10%!

Thankfully, for many people, getting a good night’s sleep is easy and drowsy driving is not an issue, but for a growing number of others, sleep deprivation has become a way of life. But it doesn’t have to be that way. If you find yourself tired throughout the day despite getting at least eight hours of sleep, or struggle to stay asleep at night and muddle through the day overtired, you could be suffering from sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea is a condition involving a patient’s airway becoming restricted as their tissues relax during sleep, causing breathing interruptions that awaken them many times in a single night. While this has been linked to issues such as fatigue, obesity, and a range of other health problems, it can also make a person more likely to develop gum disease. Here’s a brief guide to why this can happen and how people with sleep apnea can help reduce these symptoms.