You wouldn’t drive drunk, would you? No. But would you drive if you were drowsy? You might.

But before you do, think about this: according to the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine, drowsy driving is as dangerous as drunk driving.

Each year, drowsy drivers cause at least 100,000 accidents; many of these are fatal.In the United States, 250,000 motorists fall asleep at the wheel, causing 8,000 deaths and 60,000 debilitating injuries annually.

Why are so many people so tired? One reason is the excessive daytime sleepiness caused by sleep apnea.

An article in Medical News Today warns that driving while tired increases the risk of traffic accidents by seven times. In addition, sleep apnea has been estimated to be responsible for five percent to 10 percent of all motor vehicle accidents.

Don’t be as dangerous as a drunk driver. If you have untreated sleep apnea, or you have a CPAP that you don’t use, call my Buckhead dental office to discuss treatment with an oral appliance.

Small, effective and comfortable, an oral appliance can help you get back to sleep and behind the wheel safely and well-rested.