Dental Treatments for Sleep Apnea

There are many different ways to treat sleep apnea ranging from medicines, facial masks, and dental treatments. But before you can treat it, you must know what sleep apnea is. The simple definition of sleep apnea is the disruption of breathing while you are asleep. The disorder affects the sleep of thousands of people each night and can become a very serious problem if gone untreated; it can even become life threatening. Generally, sleep apnea goes virtually undiagnosed as 90% of those who really have the disorder do not even know it simply because they do not remember not being able to breathe in their sleep.

There are many different symptoms associated with sleep apnea but the most frequent factor is the cessation of breathing during sleep. People suffering from sleep apnea also may choke or gasp during sleep to draw in breath, experience loud snoring, awake suddenly to restart breathing, sweat frequently through the night, experience headaches, sore throat, or dry mouth in the morning, and even may experience daytime sleepiness. It is vital to know that snoring and sleep apnea are not one and the same. While snoring is a symptom of sleep apnea in some people, it is often not a sign of sleep apnea.

In many cases, the shape of a person’s head and neck may really be a cause of sleep apnea. This happens because the airway is made smaller when a person lays down for sleep in a certain way. Other causes include but are not limited to large tonsils or adenoids, obesity, relaxation of the tongue and throat muscles, smoking, exposure to secondhand smoke, nasal congestion, and a family history. If a person suffers from immune system abnormalities, severe heartburn, acid reflux, high blood pressure, hypothyroidism, acromegaly, vocal cord paralysis, post-polio syndrome, Marfan’s syndrome, Down syndrome, or amyloidosis, he or she may also develop sleep apnea.

Treatments for sleep apnea vary, but dentists really play a large and vital role in the treatment of sleep apnea. Dentists along with physicians, psychologists and respiratory therapists all work together to treat each sleep apnea patient. Each patient responds to different aspects of treatment a small differently than others, but some of the most common and affordable treatments include dental treatments. There are different dental appliances, lower jaw adjustment devices, and oral devices that can help treat sleep apnea and can effectively treat mild to moderate sleep apnea.

Many dental devices for treating sleep apnea are much like athletic mouth guards or appliances used for orthodontics and are made of acrylic, fitting inside the mouth. The two most common dental treatments for sleep apnea include the Tongue Retaining Device and the Mandibular Repositioning. These two devices help open your airway, and keep it open during sleep, by moving your lower jaw or tongue forward while you sleep. Often, the lower jaw and tongue go too far back thus blocking the flow of air during sleep.

While dental treatments and devices for sleep apnea can make a huge difference in treating mild to moderate cases, such treatment does have side effects. If you choose to get treated consult a dentist like sleep apnea dentist Dr. Thomas Hedge in Cincinnati.

Insomnia Causes and Treatments Guide

Sometimes the non-medical types of treatments, such as environmental changes are not enough to treat your insomnia. It may be that these types of changes are not practical for some people. In cases like these, there are a number of medications and sleep aids that can be helpful.

As long as it isn’t used for a long period and instructions are followed, it is relatively trustworthy method to try to cure insomnia. Since this is the most common type of insomnia treatment, that is certainly excellent news.

Sleep aid medications come in prescription and over-the-counter forms. You cannot obtain a prescription unless you are currently seeing a physician. If you have accurately diagnosed the condition, you are probably under the care of a doctor already. This is essential for determining if the condition is caused by an underlying medical condition. If the main issue is melancholy or depression, you can treat insomnia with anti-depressants.

Hypnotics are usually used when the condition is diagnosed as only a sleep disorder. Hypnotics are designed to get you to sleep quicker and keep you there longer. It will help in providing better rest and sleep cycle.

Hypnotics come in either half-life or full-life. Obviously, half-life hypnotics are designed to to stay in the system half of the time that full life hypnotics do. This is so daytime activities will not be disrupted. Even though the intensity of the drugs and dosages are different, the medication is commonly prescribed for a small length of time and the dosages will decrease in time.

One of the most commonly used over-the-counter sleep aids is the antihistamine. They are meant to hinder the production of bodily chemicals that result in such allergic reactions. Because they are able to cool an individual, it is possible to use it to allow one to rest and sleep. There is controversy about how useful such cures are. Be aware that you should not consume spirits or alcohol with store bought sleeping aids even though the medication might not have chemicals that reduce pain. You should always consult your doctor before taking them for pain, even though they do not require a prescription.

Insomnia can also be treated by using melatonin supplements. At night, the body produces melatonin in order to make it tired and let it know it’s time to start falling asleep. It manages this by altering your physical state, such as decreasing the temperature of your body as well as your blood pressure.

Do make sure that you do not overcompensate for the level of melatonin in your body. This can be perilous if too much melatonin is introduced into the system. There are less stringent tests that melatonin undergoes in comparison to the other drugs. As this is such, there is less knowledge about the side effects or the long term impacts.

Some types of herbs such as St. John’s Wort, chamomile, lemon balm and valerian root are commonly thought to help those with insomnia. Bear in mind that such aids and supplements are not tested as stringently as in the case for medical treatments. This would imply that there is a lot that is not known about its impacts and how useful it will be in the long run.

Herbal Treatments for Insomnia

For those people who are reluctant to rely on medical treatment or prescription drugs for their sleeping problems, they could go for insomnia herbal treatment. There are numerous herbal remedies for those who suffer from insomnia. But, despite the fact that many of these treatments are herbal, this does not necessarily mean that the herbs can be taken in large amounts, or any time he or she wants to. Sure, there are some herbal treatments for insomnia that have no adverse side-effects, but some herbal treatments can be hazardous when abused or consumed improperly. This goes to show that despite the name, not everything is completely safe. Certain precautions should be taken, and it is best to consult a doctor first, especially when the insomnia is severe.

Avena Sativa, an insomnia herbal treatment, is extremely safe. It is more commonly known as oats, and it is basically the same oats sold as oatmeal or rolled oats. Unless consumed as extracts or tincture, women should not use it during pregnancy or when breast feeding their child. Besides that, Avena Sativa has no adverse side effects. Oats helps people sleep by containing a mild sedative. Plus, oats are rich in vitamins and minerals (such as vitamin B and fiber). California Poppy, a perennial herb, does not contain any opium like its close relative. It does, but, have mild opiate effects. It aids people by relaxing the body, easing off anxiety and stress. It can have adverse effects when taken in large quantities by children or senior citizens. Celery seed is another insomnia herbal treatment that relieves a person from nervousness and anxiety. Celery stalks are more commonly recognized, but it is the seeds that have potent effects. Consumption of the seed, but, can make a person lose potassium, so replenishing the body with it is vital. If intake of this seed causes diarrhea or stomach pains, intake should be stopped.

Chamomile is another excellent herbal treatment that can give a lethargic effect. In fact, its flowers are even used as tranquilizer. It is also readily available in tea form. Hops is also considered as a sedative, and this is the same herb that gives a bitter taste to beer. People who suffer from depression are not advised to consume hops. Kava is another herb that can help people fall asleep, and it has a similar effect as alcohol. Besides being a sedative, it is also considered as an anti-depressant, although it can harm the liver. Lemon balm, usually consumed as a tea, is another tranquilizer-like sedative. It can also work as bath salts. People using thyroid medication should not use lemon balm.

Other herbs include Motherwort, Passion Flower, St. John Wort, Skullcap, Valerian, Wild Cherry and Yarrow. People who wish to consume any of these should research about the herbs first, or consult a doctor. Pregnant and breast-feeding women are not allowed to consume nearly all of these herbs because it can have adverse effects on their child’s wellbeing. Also, no one herb is applicable for all people, so there is a chance that certain herbal treatments might not work.

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