Sleep Apnea

What Helps Sleep Apnea?

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Sleep apnea is a potentially dangerous medical condition wherein a person has episodes where they stop breathing during sleep. If you have sleep apnea, getting treatment is essential to protect your health and wellness. These are the common treatments the team at Orthodontic Specialists will recommend for you to get your condition under control.

Oral Appliances

One of the first places to turn to for sleep apnea treatment is your dentist in West Bradenton, East Bradenton, or Parrish, FL. Dentists can fit you with oral appliances that position your mouth carefully to prevent obstructions that cause sleep apnea. For many patients this is all that’s needed to effectively treat the condition.

CPAP

If oral appliances aren’t working, or if your sleep apnea is severe, then you may need a CPAP machine. This device sends pressurized air into your airway while you sleep. This air prevents the airway from closing while you sleep while also ensuring adequate oxygen during sleep. CPAP stands for continuous positive airway pressure, and it’s the most effective treatment. However, it can be uncomfortable for many people to wear.

Lifestyle Changes

Sometimes, sleep apnea can be due to preventable or treatable conditions, such as obesity. In these instances, lifestyle changes can lead to lasting improvement of sleep apnea. However it’s best to embrace another treatment while giving time for lifestyle changes to work in order to protect your sleep and your health.

If you’re dealing with sleep apnea, you need to see your dentist in West Bradenton, East Bradenton, and Parrish, FL, for treatment and to discuss your health. With help from the team at Orthodontic Specialists, you can treat your sleep apnea and sleep restfully once again.

Sleep Apnea

 Risk Factors For Sleep Apnea

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Sleep apnea isn’t just about snoring, though your sleep partner might be getting tired of nudging you or pushing you over to one side to stop the noise. There are risk factors that make it more likely for a person to have this condition. If you’re one of the many, consider treatment for sleep apnea in West Bradenton, FL.

Physical and Anatomical Factors

Certain physical traits make some individuals more susceptible to sleep apnea. A narrow airway, large tonsils or an elongated soft palate can obstruct airflow during sleep. Excess weight is another major factor, as fat deposits around the neck can put pressure on the airway, making breathing more difficult. This factor is worsened when lying in a prone condition, like when the person lays down on their back to go to sleep.

Lifestyle and Health Conditions

Smoking and alcohol use, especially during the evening hours leading up to going to bed, can also worsen the condition. Then again, having bad habits like smoking causes inflammation and fluid retention in the upper airway, while alcohol relaxes throat muscles, making it easier for the airway to become blocked. There are all kinds of reasons to quit smoking and drinking and to improve lifestyle habits. Sleep apnea is but one of them.

Underlying medical conditions, including high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and chronic nasal congestion, can also contribute to sleep apnea. Hormonal imbalances, such as those caused by hypothyroidism or polycystic ovary syndrome, may further increase the risk.

Age, Gender and Family History

Sleep apnea becomes more common with age, particularly in adults over 40. Men are more likely to develop sleep apnea than women, although the risk for women increases after menopause. A family history of sleep apnea may also indicate a genetic predisposition to airway obstruction and breathing difficulties during sleep.

Recognizing risk factors is the first step toward early diagnosis and treatment with your orthodontist in West Bradenton, FL. If sleep apnea symptoms are present, seeking professional care can improve sleep quality and overall health.

A man with a beard sleeps on his side in bed, hugging a pillow and wearing a white t-shirt.

How Can My Orthodontist Help With Sleep Apnea?

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Do you snore loudly, or gasp while sleeping? You may be experiencing sleep apnea. This serious condition puts people at risk for a range of other conditions including high blood pressure, heart problems, and type 2 diabetes. If you have sleep apnea, it’s important to get help from an orthodontist in West Bradenton, East Bradenton, and Parrish, FL. We can help! We provide sleep apnea treatment for patients who want to treat their sleep apnea.

What Is Sleep Apnea? What Causes It?

Sleep apnea is a condition that causes you to stop breathing momentarily while sleeping. To resume breathing, your body wakes you up briefly. This cycle of falling asleep and waking up throughout the night prevents you from reaching the deeper stages of sleep.

Most people with sleep apnea have this problem because the muscles in the back of their mouth cover the airway during sleep. This is called “obstructive sleep apnea.”

Symptoms of sleep apnea include:

  • Daytime sleepiness
  • Loud snoring
  • Gasping while sleeping
  • Inability to focus
  • Mood swings
  • Irritability

What Can My Orthodontist Do For Sleep Apnea?

Dental appliances like mouth guards can stop the muscles at the back of the throat from collapsing over the airway. Your orthodontist can help you find a dental appliance to keep the airway open.

Why Should I Treat Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea can cause a range of problems throughout the day. Many people with sleep apnea spend their days and nights exhausted. In addition, sleep apnea puts you at risk for health conditions like heart disease. If you have sleep apnea in West Bradenton, East Bradenton, and Parrish, FL, call today.

A woman lies in bed under a grey blanket, covering her face with her hands.

Sleep Apnea: Dental Treatment Options

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Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a very common condition that impacts a great deal of people. While a CPAP machine is one of the most popular treatment options, did you know certain dental appliances can also help? Worn while you sleep, these devices help you breathe more effectively.

In this post, we’ll discuss the top oral appliances that can treat obstructive sleep apnea.

Mandibular Advancement Devices

These appliances are the most common for treating the condition. The goal of mandibular advancement devices (MADs) is to move your lower jaw forward. This action also pushes your tongue forward and away from your throat, leading to more airflow. Mandibular advancement devices are worn over your top and bottom teeth.

If you want to learn more about this innovative device, contact Orthodontic Specialists today! We’re happy to offer the most reliable sleep apnea dental treatment in Bradenton, FL.

Tongue-Stabilizing Appliances

If you have sleep apnea, your tongue may be blocking your airway while you sleep, which can lead to several troubling symptoms. Luckily, tongue-stabilizing appliances can eliminate this problem by keeping your tongue in the correct position. The device accomplishes this by moving your tongue forward using suction, which opens your airway. Many people choose this appliance if they can’t use mandibular advancement devices. Tongue-stabilizing appliances are more suitable for those who don’t have strong enough teeth for MADs.

OSA Solutions at Orthodontic Specialists

Sleep apnea can lead to a massive decrease in sleep quality. This can cause a whole host of symptoms, including daytime tiredness, brain fog, loud snoring, headaches, immune system problems, and more.

Here at Orthodontic Specialists, we want to make your sleep troubles a distant memory! With our help, we can give you the high-quality sleep you need. Make an appointment with us today to work with the leading dentist in Bradenton, FL!

A man with a beard sleeps on his side in bed, hugging a pillow and wearing a white t-shirt.

I’m Told I Snore Loudly – Could I Have Sleep Apnea?

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Snoring is normal, and a lot of people do it. However, loud snoring can be a problem. Loud snoring can disturb your sleep partner and could be a sign of sleep apnea. If you have sleep apnea, your dentist in Bradenton and Parrish, FL, can provide treatment. The professionals at Orthodontic Specialists offer a range of therapies for sleep apnea, including mouthguards that can help keep your airway open while sleeping. Here’s what you need to know.

What Is Sleep Apnea?

If you have sleep apnea, this means that you stop breathing briefly while you’re asleep. Most people experience this problem because their throat muscles relax and their airway closes while they sleep. To resume breathing, they wake up so quickly they don’t remember doing it. People who have sleep apnea are at risk of many conditions and experience poor-quality sleep.

What Are the Symptoms?

If you have sleep apnea, you’ll be a loud snorer. You may be so loud that your sleep partner or spouse cannot sleep with you. Other symptoms of sleep apnea include:

  • Difficulty focusing throughout the day
  • Irritability
  • Sleepiness during the day
  • Headaches in the morning
  • Gasping and choking while sleeping

How Can I Treat Sleep Apnea?

Some people who have sleep apnea use a CPAP machine to keep their airway open while they’re sleeping. Your dentist at Orthodontic Specialists can help with a special mouthguard that keeps your airway open. To learn more about our sleep apnea treatment in Bradenton and Parrish, FL, call Orthodontic Specialists today.

A woman in bed covers her ears with a pillow and looks frustrated while a man next to her sleeps and snores.

My Spouse Snores. Is It Sleep Apnea?

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Snoring can be annoying and disruptive for sleep partners. Did you know that snoring can also be a sign of sleep apnea? If your spouse snores, seek help. See your orthodontist in West Bradenton, East Bradenton, and Parrish, FL, to find out whether your spouse has sleep apnea and what can be done.

What Is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a condition that occurs when a person stops breathing for brief periods while they’re asleep. This happens because the muscles in the back of the throat become deeply relaxed during sleep. When this happens, the airway collapses, and the person stops breathing. To start breathing again, the person startles awake and then falls asleep so quickly that they don’t realize anything ever happened.

Most people who have sleep apnea don’t even know that they snore – unless their spouse mentions it. People who have sleep apnea snore loudly, often so loudly it can be heard in other parts of the house.

What Are the Signs of Sleep Apnea?

In addition to loud snoring, some signs of sleep apnea include:

  • Irritability and mood swings
  • Difficulty focusing on tasks
  • Tiredness during the day, even after a full night’s rest
  • Gasping while sleeping

What To Do About Sleep Apnea?

If your spouse has sleep apnea, they should seek treatment. Sleep apnea can put your spouse at risk for many other conditions like cardiovascular problems and stroke. To help your spouse get sleep apnea treatment in Bradenton and Parrish, FL, make an appointment at Orthodontic Specialists. We’re here to help!

A woman lying in bed with her hands folded on her chest, eyes closed, covered by a green blanket in a softly lit room.

Sleep Apnea: Dental Treatment Options

/0 Comments/in /by

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a very common condition that impacts a great deal of people. While a CPAP machine is one of the most popular treatment options, did you know certain dental appliances can also help? Worn while you sleep, these devices help you breathe more effectively.

In this post, we’ll discuss the top oral appliances that can treat obstructive sleep apnea.

Mandibular Advancement Devices

These appliances are the most common for treating the condition. The goal of mandibular advancement devices (MADs) is to move your lower jaw forward. This action also pushes your tongue forward and away from your throat, leading to more airflow. Mandibular advancement devices are worn over your top and bottom teeth.

If you want to learn more about this innovative device, contact Orthodontic Specialists today! We’re happy to offer the most reliable sleep apnea dental treatment in Bradenton, FL.

Tongue-Stabilizing Appliances

If you have sleep apnea, your tongue may be blocking your airway while you sleep, which can lead to several troubling symptoms. Luckily, tongue-stabilizing appliances can eliminate this problem by keeping your tongue in the correct position. The device accomplishes this by moving your tongue forward using suction, which opens your airway. Many people choose this appliance if they can’t use mandibular advancement devices. Tongue-stabilizing appliances are more suitable for those who don’t have strong enough teeth for MADs.

OSA Solutions at Orthodontic Specialists

Sleep apnea can lead to a massive decrease in sleep quality. This can cause a whole host of symptoms, including daytime tiredness, brain fog, loud snoring, headaches, immune system problems, and more.

Here at Orthodontic Specialists, we want to make your sleep troubles a distant memory! With our help, we can give you the high-quality sleep you need. Make an appointment with us today to work with the leading dentist in Bradenton, FL!