Sleep apnea is a condition where breathing is repeatedly interrupted during sleep, often due to airway blockages. It can lead to serious health issues such as fatigue, heart problems, and difficulty focusing. Orthodontic treatments can help by addressing structural issues in the jaw and airway, improving airflow and reducing the symptoms of sleep apnea. Our specialized orthodontic solutions, such as oral appliances, work to realign the jaw and open up the airway, providing a non-invasive, effective way to enhance breathing and overall sleep quality.
Sleep Apnea, literally means “with‑out breath” in Greek. It is when breathing stops for 10 seconds or more while sleeping.
Signs of Sleep Apnea:
- Snoring that may disrupt the sleep of others.
- Gasping, coughing or choking upon wakening
- Waking with your heart racing
- Waking up tired after a full night’s sleep
- Waking up with a headache
- Problems with memory or concentration
- Feeling very sleepy during the day
- Falling asleep without intending to
- Feeling irritable, short-tempered
- Weight gain, inability to lose weight
- Acid Reflux in adults
- AD/HD an/or bed wetting in children
Left untreated, sleep apnea increases the likelihood of illness or injury. It has been linked to obesity, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and even death.
Serious and life-threatening problems start when sleepers begin experiencing apneas (where breathing stops) and hypopneas (where breathing is shallow due to an obstruction). Breathing is usually blocked in the back of the throat when the tongue and muscles relax during sleep, the lower jaw falls back toward the throat, and the airway becomes blocked.
Apneas can last from 10 seconds to a minute or longer and can occur hundreds of times per night.
The body’s oxygen level drops which in turn causes blood pressure to rise. The heart is forced to beat faster, which increases the pulse rate. The brain may cause the arms, legs or whole body to jerk in an attempt to wake the sleeper to resume breathing. The silence may end with a loud snort, cough or gasp. This causes the sleeper to wake briefly and begin breathing. Once asleep again, the muscles relax etc. and the process repeats itself.