Sleep apnea is a serious medical condition. It can be harmful to your health. Even mild sleep apnea disturbs your sleep and can greatly affect your blood oxygen levels.
Beachwood Sleep Center is a dental sleep clinic focused on sleep dentistry. We emphasize the importance of taking the right treatment plans to dramatically improve and even control your sleep apnea.
We care for your overall health by providing the right treatment options for your unique medical condition!
We are in-network with most major medical insurance plans and Medicare!
Schedule your completely FREE, no obligation, virtual consultation NOW and start enjoying a great night’s sleep with all of the tremendous health benefits!
Factors Causing Snoring?
Most people snore occasionally, but sometimes snoring becomes a serious chronic sleep disorder and can be an indicator of other significant health problems. Many factors can cause snoring, affecting your overall health condition. Things that affect snoring include:
- Allergies.Congestion caused by allergic reactions makes you more likely to snore.
- Colds. Like allergies, colds clog up your nose and sinuses, increasing snoring.
- Weight. People who weigh more than they should are more likely to snore.
- Smoking. Since smoking irritates the soft tissues in your mouth, it can cause snoring.
- Alcohol. Alcohol can increase snoring because it relaxes your soft palate.
- Sleeping position. People who sleep on their backs are more likely to snore because sleeping on your back doesn’t allow your airway to open as much as on your side.
- Anatomy. Depending on the anatomy of your mouth and sinuses, you might snore more.
- A Closed Off Airway. This is a serious issue, and for this reason, it is always a good idea to get a FREE consultation.
Schedule your completely FREE, no obligation, consultation NOW and start breathing better and sleeping soundly.
Should I Be Worried About Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a severe medical condition where you repeatedly stop breathing at night. It can be quite dangerous to your overall and long-term health. It keeps you from sleeping soundly and letting your body rest. Please call our office for your FREE Virtual Consultation if you are showing any of these sleep apnea symptoms.
Signs of sleep apnea and symptoms of sleep apnea include:
- Loud snoring.
- Restless sleep.
- Chest pain at night.
- Morning headaches.
- Trouble breathing at night.
- Sore throat in the morning.
- Excessive daytime fatigue.
- Weight Gain
- Gasping or choking at night.
Health Concerns Related to Sleep Apnea and Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a disorder that causes you to stop and start breathing at night. You wake up when you stop breathing but usually forget it in the morning. It can be quite dangerous since it can cut off the oxygen to your brain and body for too long.
So the question is, can sleep apnea kill you? Well, the short answer is yes. It is that dangerous, but don’t worry. At Beachwood Sleep Center, It can be treated successfully.
If you continue to live with apnea for a long time, it can definitely damage your long term health.
Insufficient sleep and lack of oxygen create many health risk factors that make it essential to seek sleep apnea diagnosis. Some side effects related to sleep apnea are:
Insufficient sleep and lack of oxygen create many health risks that make it essential to seek treatment for sleep apnea. Some health concerns related to sleep apnea are:
- Stroke.
- Obesity.
- Diabetes.
- Depression.
- Heart failure.
- Heart attacks.
- Heart disease.
- Hypertension (high blood pressure).
There are three main types of sleep apnea, each of which come with similar health concerns. The three main types include:
- Obstructive sleep apnea. The most common form of sleep apnea, obstructive sleep apnea, occurs when the muscles in the throat relax too much, blocking airflow.
- Central sleep apnea. This kind of sleep apnea happens when your brain doesn’t send the right signals to the muscles that control breathing.
- Complex sleep apnea. Complex sleep apnea is a combination of obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea.
Why Visit a Dentist for Snoring or Sleep Apnea Treatment?
A dentist is in the perfect position to see and understand the true causes of sleep apnea and can therefore treat the root cause, not just the symptoms.
There are a variety of dental treatments for sleep apnea. Many are available at Beachwood Sleep Center, such as oral appliances like mouthguards and Invisalign clear braces to correct tooth misalignments that open your airway. These are most likely the most comfortable methods to try first. If dental sleep apnea therapy does not work, air pressure machines like CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure), BiPAP (Bilevel-positive airway pressure), or VPAP (variable positive airway pressure) are alternative sleep apnea machines.
Most people with sleep apnea want options and alternatives to a CPAP machine. CPAPs can be uncomfortable, clunky, and loud, and for some claustrophobic.
We offer many different treatments to help you and your bed partner sleep better and feel more comfortable. We also recommend treating sleep apnea for weight loss.
Nasal Breathing Exercises and Decongestants for Snoring and Sleep Apnea
Below are some tips to help you stop snoring.
Breathing Exercises for Snoring
Practicing breathing through your nose can make a big difference in snoring. It strengthens your mouth and throat, which can also help with mild sleep apnea. To practice,
- Inhale through your nose with your mouth closed.
- Close off one nostril with a finger.
- Breathe out through the open nostril.
- Repeat about ten times, alternating nostrils.
Facial Exercises for Snoring
Tongue and face exercises, including singing and chewing gum, can also help. Some facial exercises may seem silly, but they can strengthen muscles and tighten tissues that cause snoring. There are many you can look up on YouTube.
Decongestants
Allergies or colds often cause snoring, which results in a stuffy nose and forces you to breathe with your mouth open. To clear a blocked nose, you can use saline or decongestant nasal spray.
However, doctors do not recommend using decongestants regularly. Another option to consider is a neti pot. Just make sure they are properly sterilized. An air purifier can also help stop snoring caused by allergies.
Invisalign Treatment
Sometimes, crowded teeth or a narrow bite can cause sleep apnea. If this is the case, Invisalign orthodontics is a helpful treatment for snoring or sleep apnea.
Fixing your bite or creating more space for your teeth can provide your tongue with additional room. This extra space prevents your tongue from obstructing your airway.
Oral Sleep Apnea Appliance,
Various CPAP alternatives, like oral appliances, can help treat obstructive sleep apnea.
One appliance is a sleep apnea mouthguard, which gently positions your lower jaw forward and prevents the collapse of the soft tissues at the back of your throat.
Another option is a device that stops the tongue from falling back and blocking the airway.
Schedule Your Completely FREE, No Obligation, Consultation NOW
Call us at 216-470-5738 to schedule your Completely FREE, No Obligation, Virtual Sleep Apnea Consultation NOW and start protecting your overall health and your bed partner’s sanity!