Sleep Apnea and Snoring: Oral Devices.
These are devices worn in the mouth that helps improve sleep quality by controlling sleep apnea and snoring.
An oral device (mouthpiece) has two purposes. It aligns the lower jaw with the upper jaw where the wearer has an over- or underbite, and it forces the wearer to breathe through the nose instead of the mouth. An oral appliance is held in place by the teeth. Many different types of oral appliances are available, but the most widely used and researched is the Mandibular (jaw) Repositioning Appliance, or MRA – sometimes called a Mandibular Advancing Device (or MAD). The MRA positions the lower jaw and tongue slightly forward. This opens the back of the throat and reduces tissue blockage, helping keep the patient’s airway open and clear during sleep.
An oral appliance may be recommended to treat snoring, or as an option for patients with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea. In some cases, it may be an elective alternative for patients who cannot use a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airways Pressure) machine for sleep apnea. Dentists with advanced training in the field of dental sleep medicine are recommended for fitting oral appliances. However there are some over-the-counter devices, which can be fitted at home. They are usually softened in hot water, and then placed in the mouth to fit. These are usually a purchased at a reasonable price, and they may be sourced on the web.
Snoring is usually worse with mouth breathers, and this device ensures that the wearer breathes through the nose, thus keeping the tongue from falling back and blocking the airway. Almost half of adults snore, and the problem is made worse by the patient’s excess weight or obesity. Snoring occurs when there is a partial blockage to the free flow of air through the mouth and nose. The sound occurs when loose fleshy structures in the throat, like the uvula and soft palate, vibrate as air passes over them. Snoring can increase when the muscles in the back of the throat are too relaxed either from drugs that induce sleep or alcohol consumption. Snoring can be serious both socially and medically, and can disrupt marriages and cause sleepless nights for bed partners.
Medically, snoring can be the precursor of obstructive sleep apnea, which has been linked to heart failure, high blood pressure and stroke. In its own right, snoring has been linked to Type II Diabetes. Sleep apnea usually interrupts loud snoring with a period of silence in which no air passes into the lungs. Eventually the lack of oxygen and the increase carbon dioxide will awaken you forcing the airway to open with a loud gasp. Heavy snorers are also more likely to suffer a heart attack while asleep than non-snorers. Blood pressure changes caused by snoring may lead to blockage of the coronary arteries and increase the risk of heart disease.
These mouthpieces can alleviate snoring and improve sleep disorders.