Sleep Apnea and Snoring Are Treatable by Your Dentist? Believe it!
If you snore at night, you may thing it is a medical problem or something you simply cannot correct. Turns out, your dentist may be able to help stop your snoring and sleep apnea.


/Dental News Articles/ - SAN DIEGO, CA, March 05, 2008 - Many people don't realize that snoring can be much more than a simple annoyance. Frequently related to sleep apnea, a condition in which the airways become restricted during sleep, snoring and other breathing difficulties during sleep can cause serious health problems, including:
• Chronic tiredness, which can lead to decreased performance and even loss of consciousness during the day
• Increased risk of illnesses as a result of a compromised immune system
• Irritability and other mood disorders
• Decreased reaction times and cognitive abilities
• Sexual problems
• Heart disease
• High blood pressure

In addition, a recent study conducted by the University of British Columbia shows that sleep apnea sufferers are twice as likely as non-sufferers to get in car crash, and had an increased risk of suffering serious injury from those crashes.

What is sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea is a breathing disturbance caused by an obstruction to your airway during sleep. This can cause a number of serious health problems, as it prevents your body from intaking oxygen properly; but the most immediately obvious symptom is chronic snoring.

What causes sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea is caused by an obstruction to your airways during sleep. This can be a chronic or a temporary condition. In some cases, the obstruction might be as simple as excess mucous from a cold or flu, allergies, or dietary issues such as sensitivity to dairy foods.

In other cases, it may be caused by a more permanent condition, such as excess fat that obstructs breathing or muscle weakness that causes the airways to collapse.

Options for sleep apnea
People who have sleep apnea are often prescribed medical devices called CPAP machines. These machines blow a steady stream of air into the upper airways during sleep, keeping the airways open, and helping the patient breathe correctly. While these devices are very effective, they can be cumbersome, expensive, and awkward to use for many patients. In fact, many patients abandon use of their CPAP machines because of the noise, discomfort, and inconvenience.

Some other options that can help with sleep apnea include behavioral and lifestyle changes such as:
• Changing sleeping positions
• Losing weight
• Changing your diet
• Quitting smoking
• Limiting alcohol
• Avoiding medications such as sleeping pills and antihistamines before bedtime

If none of these options are sufficient to control your sleep apnea, however, your dentist may be able to offer a solution that is less extreme and unwieldy than a CPAP machine.

How can my dentist help?
In many cases, sleep apnea can be prevented by use of a simple dental device that fits comfortably at the back of your mouth, keeping the airway clear while you sleep. Your dentist can tell you if this solution is right for you.

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