Skip to main content

Are Mouth Guards Effective against Sleep Apnea?


Are you diagnosed with the condition of sleep apnea, which relaxes the muscles around the tongue and throat? Sleep apnea causes a blockage of airflow to your lungs when sleeping, needing you to discuss various treatment options with your doctor. The two most commonly used and effective treatments against sleep apnea are mouth guards or dental appliances and the continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP).

The most effective treatment for OSA, the CPAP blows air down your throat with continuous pressure to ensure your airways open when sleeping. The CPAP machine used with this treatment includes a mask fitting over your nose and mouth held in place with straps while you sleep, a motor to blow the air and a tube known as cannula connecting the motor to the mask.

After you begin treatment with the CPAP device, you will feel better but will need some time to become accustomed to the device. However, if you are affected by mild or moderate OSA and cannot tolerate the CPAP device, dentists have pioneered an oral appliance that is effective and can help you to manage the problem of sleep apnea effectively.

The dentist in north-east Calgary, Alberta, provides a mandibular advancement device that is similar to a mouth guard used in sports. This device snaps over the dental arches on the upper and lower jaws with metal hinges making it possible to keep the lower jaw in a forward position. Some tools like the Thornton adjustable positioner permit you to control the degree of advancement.

Man with Sleep Apnea sleeping using mouthguard

The dentist in north-east Calgary recommends mouth guards if you are accustomed to sleeping on your back or stomach because the appliances can improve your sleep by reducing the frequency and the loudness of snoring. Research has proved that people prefer to use dental tools as compared to the CPAP device when affected by mild or moderate obstructive sleep apnea.

If you are recommended a dental device, you must get yourself checked up to understand if it is functioning appropriately. Periodic checkups for adjustments or replacements are also required. The best treatment for OSA depends on several factors, including the severity of your condition. The physical structure of your upper airway, your personal preference, and other problems you could be suffering from all have a role to play when selecting the best treatment option for you. Therefore you must work with your dentist and the sleep medicine specialist to choose a treatment option best suited to your specific requirements.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What Are The Causes Of Ankyloglossia Or Tongue Tie?

Ankyloglossia, also known as tongue-tie, is a condition that is present at birth and restricts the range of motion of the tongue. Children with tongue-tie have an unusually thick or tight band of tissue that tethers the bottom of the tongue’s tip to the floor of the mouth, interfering with breastfeeding. Children affected by a tongue-tie will have difficulties sticking out their tongue. The problem of ankyloglossia can affect the eating, speaking, and swallowing habits of the child. Generally, the lingual frenulum separates before birth allowing the child’s tongue free range of motion. However, with ankyloglossia, the lingual frenulum remains attached to the bottom of the tongue. The reasons for this condition are unknown to the medical fraternity, but some cases of ankyloglossia are associated with some genetic factors as the condition often runs among families. Children affected by a tongue-tie will have difficulties lifting their tongue to the upper teeth or even moving the ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Why Air Abrasion Is A Much Better Alternative To The Dental Drill?

Like most people, you are certainly not a big fan of the dental drill. Its loud and violent whirring noise is irritating and intimidating to most people. The dental drill has been around for many years. It is common to find it during general dentistry procedures. The equipment is used for removing damaged and decayed tooth materials. Disadvantages of the Dental Drill Teeth that are damaged by decay are first drilled to restore them using dental fillings. The dental drill has been effective in delivering the desired results in general dentistry. It, however, has the following drawbacks: • As dentists in Holmdel have noted, the drill action may cause you to feel discomfort resulting due to friction. • As mentioned earlier, the machine produces a loud noise that is considered intimidating and irritating by most patients. • When taking out the decayed material, the rotating burrs also take out pieces of the healthy tooth. • It may cause your tooth to weaken or, even wor...
Post a Comment
Read more