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Night Guards and Sleep Apnea Appliances Does your sleeping partner snore? Does their breathing sound shallow? Do you notice their breathing stopping and starting? .jpg)
If you answered yes to any of these questions it may be a sign of a breathing disorder called Sleep Apnea.
What Is Sleep Apnea? Sleep Apnea is a common breathing disorder in which you experience shallow breathing or pauses in your breathing while you sleep. The pauses in your breathing can last anywhere from a few seconds to minutes and can occur up to 30 times an hour. Normal breathing typically resumes after these pauses with a chocking or snorting sound. Sleep apnea is an ongoing condition that can interrupt your sleep 3 or more nights every week. When your breathing pauses or becomes shallow you will often move in and out of deep sleep. This interruption in your sleep can cause excessive sleepiness during the day. How do we treat Sleep Apnea? The goal of treating Sleep Apnea is to restore regular breathing during sleep. There are a number of approaches we can take depending on the severity of your case: .jpg)
In some cases of mild sleep apnea changing daily activities or habits may be the solution.
Sometimes we will use a special mouthpiece that is worn while you sleep to aid to flow of air. The appliance will adjust your jaw and tongue to help keep your airways open. Breathing Devices In moderate to severe cases of Sleep Apnea we will recommend a breathing device called a continuous positive airway pressure machine. This machine gently blows air into your throat. This air presses the wall of your airway preventing it from becoming narrow or blocked while you sleep. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms described above be sure to talk to us about sleep apnea. We may be able to help you get a better night’s sleep. |
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