C.P.A.P. (continuous positive airway pressure) is typically the best treatment for moderate to severe sleep apnea. If however, you have been diagnosed with mild obstructive sleep apnea, our Surrey and Langley dentists can recommend other treatment options that could help to relieve your sleep apnea symptoms.
Only a medical professional can diagnose sleep apnea. If you have been diagnosed with substantial or severe sleep apnea, CPAP is generally the first and most effective treatment option.
That said, there are other treatment options you may want to consider trying, to help lessen your symptoms, if you suffer from mild obstructive sleep apnea.
Before making any lifestyle changes it's important to check with your doctor.
Lifestyle Changes
A number of lifestyle changes are recommended to help lesson the symptoms of sleep apnea.
While lifestyle changes may not work for everyone, if your goal is to get a good night's rest and wake up feeling alert these changes may be helpful.
Weight Loss
Losing weight is known to be particularly effective in relieving the symptoms of sleep apnea. Some studies have shown that sleep apnea symptoms may be reduced by as much as a 30% when patients lose just 10% of their body weight.
Patients who are overweight often have extra tissue around their airway. Overall weight loss can help to shrink this excess tissue and allow air to flow more freely to the lungs.
Avoid Alcohol and Sedatives
A patient's airway can become obstructed when the throat muscles relax due to the effects of alcohol or sedatives. To help reduce the symptoms of your sleep apnea try to avoid alcohol and sedatives before bed.
Avoid Sleeping On Your Back
The risk of sleep apnea is increased in people who sleep on their back. For those who sleep on their back, gravity can pull on the tissues at the back of the throat and potentially cause the airway to narrow or even collapse.
If you suffer from sleep apnea, try training yourself to sleep on your side instead of your back. Prop pillows up against your back while you lie on your side, or try placing a tennis ball in your back pyjama pocket when you go to bed, to prevent yourself from rolling onto your back while you sleep.
Dental Appliances
Dental appliances can also help lesson the symptoms of mild sleep apnea in some patients.
These appliances should be relatively comfortable to wear when properly fitted by your dentist. They reduce the symptoms of sleep apnea by holding the tongue and jaw forward, preventing them from slipping backwards and obstructing the airway.
Your dentist can fit your dental appliance to the exact shape and size of your mouth. It's important that your dental appliance is comfortable enough for you to wear every night. If you don't wear it, it can't work. So, If your dental appliance is causing you discomfort speak to your dentist about having your appliance adjusted.