This device consists of a machine with a tube and a mask that you attach to your face at night, and it circulates air in an effort to provide continuous pressure to keep your airway open, therefore preventing the airway collapse that comes with obstructive sleep apnea.

However, while CPAP therapy is effective when used properly, it’s also known for being too uncomfortable and noisy for many patients. For some, CPAP prevents the exact thing it’s designed to do—facilitate a good night’s rest and reduce sleep apnea symptoms.

Could your dentist help get you off your CPAP? Here’s how your oral healthcare professional might just be able to provide another way for sleep apnea relief!

Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT) for Sleep Apnea

An oral appliance is a device that’s similar to a retainer and is worn inside the mouth. This device prevents the collapsed airway and snoring that sleep apnea patients experience.

Oral appliances are custom-made for your unique jaw structure and come in different designs depending on what you need. Some of these devices shift the lower jaw forward, allowing the airway to remain open, and others prevent the tongue from blocking the airway during sleep [1].

Patients who use oral appliances for sleep apnea love the discreetness of the device, making not only sleeping but traveling easier. The device is simple, comfortable, and gives patients a new way to keep their airway open during sleep and stop the severe consequences associated with sleep apnea.

What Does Research Say About the Effectiveness of OAT?

Some patients might be hesitant to switch to an oral appliance from a CPAP machine. However, research shows that an oral appliance can be just as effective as CPAP, just without the discomfort!

Research shows that oral appliances can work as an effective alternative to CPAP for the majority of patients who suffer from sleep apnea [2]. Other studies show that patients who have mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea can benefit from oral appliances for their treatment [3].

Further research concluded that it was easier for patients to comply with OAT therapy as
opposed to CPAP, making it a viable option for long-term treatment [4]. Some people neglect to wear their CPAP mask nightly, as it can make sleeping uncomfortable and prevent patients from committing to the treatment long-term. However, treatment is essential to curb your sleep apnea symptoms, some of which can be life-threatening.

Tired of Your CPAP Machine?

If your doctor has prescribed a CPAP machine to manage your sleep apnea, it might be time to follow up with your dentist to determine if oral appliance therapy could work for you. For many patients, these devices provide a way to successfully manage sleep apnea without the need for a machine!

Sources:
1. https://www.aastweb.org/blog/benefits-of-sleep-apnea-dental-appliances-pros-and-
cons
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3738032/
3. https://academic.oup.com/sleep/article/36/9/1289/2453867
4. https://erj.ersjournals.com/content/50/suppl_61/PA4725

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So what exactly does your nightly snoring mean? Here’s why you might not want to ignore
snoring, especially if this habit is disrupting your life.

Sleep Apnea

Snoring is one of the most common symptoms of sleep apnea. Although there are three
different types of sleep apnea, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common. Obstructive
sleep apnea happens when the airway becomes partially or completely blocked when sleeping,
which can lead to snoring.

When OSA is present, a person will actually stop breathing during the night and the body will
wake itself up to begin breathing regularly again. This stopping and starting of breathing can be
very jarring for the body and has the potential to lead to a variety of unpleasant health
symptoms.

Conditions Linked to Sleep Apnea

When the body pauses breathing so many times during sleep, oxygen levels in the blood drop.
Since sleep apnea causes the body undue stress due to cessation of breathing, several different
chronic health conditions have been associated with sleep apnea. These include:

 Heart disease
 Headaches
 High blood pressure
 Stroke
 Obesity
 Mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety
 Diabetes

Since many sufferers of sleep apnea also feel very fatigued during the day, there is an increased
chance for accidents such as car accidents during waking hours.

While not everyone who snores will have sleep apnea—and not everyone who has sleep apnea
will snore—it’s imperative to attain a proper diagnosis for your symptoms before jumping to
conclusions or receiving any type of treatment.

What Else Could Snoring Mean?

Snoring doesn’t always mean sleep apnea is present. Snoring can be caused by uniquely formed
nasal passages, such as people who have a deviated septum, who may be more prone to
snoring.

People who frequently have sinus infections may also be more likely to snore. Having muscles
in the throat that relax too much—which can be caused by medications such as narcotics as
well as alcohol consumption—can also cause the airway to collapse during sleep.

Being overweight is also a risk factor for snoring, as excess tissue around the neck and throat
can depress the airway while sleeping.

In order to discover the true cause of your snoring, the first step is often the dentist. Dentists
often come into contact with sleep apnea and while they can talk with you about your
symptoms, you’ll be referred to a sleep specialist for an official diagnosis.

Your dentist can, however, assist you with treating sleep apnea with oral appliances, which help
to keep the airway open during sleep, stop your cessation of breathing, and over time, decrease
your symptoms. Are you worried that you suffer from sleep apnea as a result of snoring? Don’t
wait to get your symptoms evaluated—you can start feeling better with the right treatment!

The post Your Nightly Snoring Could Mean More Than You Think appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

There are different types of sleep apnea a patient may be diagnosed with. What are the differences between mild and severe obstructive sleep apnea?

Mild Sleep Apnea Characteristics

If you’ve been diagnosed with mild sleep apnea, this means you experience between 5 and 14 different instances of cessation of breathing every hour. When you think about the standard person sleeping 8 hours, this means you could stop breathing over 100 times every single night! Mild sleep apnea may also be accompanied by fatigue during the day as well as snoring at night.

Your partner may notice that you have a restless sleep or wake frequently during the night. Typically, a person with sleep apnea will have no recollection of these periods of being unable to breathe. Although mild, this form of obstructive sleep apnea still needs to be treated.

Severe Sleep Apnea Symptoms

People who have severe sleep apnea stop breathing 30 times or more every hour while they’re asleep. This means they may stop breathing almost 250 times every night. Severe sleep apnea shares many common symptoms with mild sleep apnea, such as snoring, fatigue, and restless sleep, although these symptoms may be more pronounced.

If you have severe sleep apnea, you’re also much more likely to experience other health problems that come with obstructive sleep apnea, including headaches upon waking, severe fatigue during the day, and even suffering from depression. Severe sleep apnea is life- threatening and should be treated by a specialist.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Any additional medical conditions you have as well as the severity of your fatigue may influence what level of obstructive sleep apnea you have. A sleep study, which typically occurs overnight, is the most common way to properly diagnose sleep apnea. Your dentist can talk with you about your symptoms and refer you to a sleep specialist if you suspect you suffer from this disorder.

For many years, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines were considered to be the only treatment for sleep apnea. Modern advances in treatment have enabled most types of sleep apnea to be treated with oral sleep appliances. These appliances don’t fit much differently than a retainer and are easy to wear and travel with. Best of all, they help alleviate your symptoms of sleep apnea, helping your life return to normal.

Are you experiencing any symptoms of sleep apnea? Your dentist or physician can help you get a proper diagnosis so that you can get the treatment you need to experience a better night’s sleep. Talk with your dentist today about your symptoms to determine if mild or severe obstructive sleep apnea could be impacting your life and your health!

The post What Are the Differences Between Mild and Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease, more commonly known as acid reflux disease, is when powerful acids from your stomach end up in your esophagus. This damaging disorder can cause traces of these acids to wind up in your mouth, causing enamel erosion and dental caries. Many people don’t realize that acid reflux could actually be a warning sign of sleep apnea, as the acids can back up in your esophagus and cause coughing which wakes you up.

Depression

If you’ve been feeling depressed or tired, it might not be what you think. You could actually be suffering from sleep apnea. Sleep apnea causes you to wake frequently during the night, and these disrupted sleep patterns could impact how serotonin works in your brain, causing you to feel depressed. The effect works two ways—decreased serotonin levels could also cause a disrupted sleep cycle!

Cognitive Disorders

Research indicates that people who have sleep apnea get diagnosed with cognitive disorders an average of ten years earlier than people who don’t have the disorder. Experts speculate that this is the result of a lack of oxygen in the blood, which means the brain can’t properly remove toxins or store memories. The effects may be memory loss or worse—early dementia or Alzheimer’s.

Mood Swings

Sleep hugely impacts your mood, research shows. When you get only a few hours of sleep every night, anxiety, stress, agitation, and more mood swings can become part of your daily life. If you’ve been seeing a dramatic change in your moods but are still getting that 8 hours every night, talk to your dentist, who can refer you to a sleep specialist. You could be waking up every few minutes and not know it!

Sexual Dysfunction

People with sleep apnea often experience a decreased sex drive or erectile dysfunction. This can be the result of a lack of deep sleep, which can negatively impact testosterone levels. Testosterone plays an important role in sex drive for both men and women. This is one symptom of sleep apnea that’s commonly overlooked, as people can be hesitant to talk about this with their physicians.

If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, schedule a consultation with either your dentist or a sleep specialist. Your dentist can talk with you about your symptoms and perform and oral exam that’ll reveal the state of your oral health. Acid reflux has a huge impact on dental enamel, so you may need treatment for this along with sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is considered a chronic disorder that can severely impact your health—don’t wait to seek a diagnosis or get treatment!

Image courtesy of FrameAngel at freedigitalphotos.net

The post Unexpected Signs That You May Have Sleep Apnea appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Quick Treatment Doesn’t Address the Cause

Products that promise a quick fix for your sleep apnea don’t actually address the problems that are causing the issue. Sleep apnea can have numerous causes. Obesity, anatomy of your throat, high blood pressure, and smoking can all be contributing factors. When you attempt to treat sleep apnea through one of these over-the- counter products, you could even be aggravating an existing condition such as a temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder. You don’t know what’s causing your sleep apnea without a diagnosis from a sleep physician. By getting an accurate diagnosis, you can move forward with treatment that’s effective and comfortable for your sleep apnea.

You May Not Have Sleep Apnea

When you choose to treat what you think is sleep apnea, you could be attempting to treat a health condition you don’t have. Symptoms of sleep apnea can overlap with those of other conditions. Fatigue and headaches could be the result of depression, insomnia, or stress. Waking up in the night could be a sign of stress rather than sleep apnea. Snoring is one of the most common symptoms of sleep apnea as it indicates an obstructed airway. However, there’s no way you can know for sure if you have one of the three types of sleep apnea without visiting a doctor.

Sleep Apnea Is a Serious Condition

Sleep apnea is a serious health condition that should never be treated without the help of your doctor. Once you have a diagnosis, you and your dentist can work to create a solution. Oral sleep appliances are popular choices for sleep apnea treatment due to their comfort and ease of use. Your dentist can fit you with an oral sleep appliance to curb your sleep apnea symptoms. Take sleep apnea seriously— get a diagnosis. Get treatment. Get results!

Get Professional Treatment That Works

Professional treatment for sleep apnea means getting treatment that’s tailored to you to actually work. Your symptoms may change over time, as you may gain or lose weight or even change medications. Changes such as these can affect sleep apnea, so continuing to manage your care is essential. Your dentist can work to fit your appliance and make adjustments as needed during your treatment.

Addressing any dental health problems you have before getting treatment for sleep apnea is also important. Oral health concerns such as gum disease and TMJ disorders could prevent you from getting an oral sleep appliance. Visiting your dentist is crucial to ensure your mouth is healthy and ready for treatment!

Sleep apnea is not a disorder to be taken lightly. This condition requires professional diagnosis and treatment for real results. If you believe you’re suffering from sleep apnea, schedule an appointment with your dentist today. He or she can talk with you about your symptoms and even refer you to a sleep specialist who can help diagnose you.

The post Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Self-Treat for Sleep Apnea appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.