Losing Sleep Over Snoring? CPAP Alternatives Are Here!

For the many sufferers of sleep apnea, the solution has always been some sort of oral appliance, a CPAP, or Continuous Positive Airway Pressure, machine, or a combination of both. However, some people are CPAP intolerant which can severely limit the treatment options for sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea is a severe health concern for those who suffer from it. It reduces healthy sleep resulting in less restful sleep, consistent daytime sleepiness, and can actually increase the risk of suffering from strokes and heart attacks, not just decrease the quality of life for the sufferers. Sleep apnea is generally defined as when a person who is asleep quits breathing for periods of time approximately ten seconds long. This person will then wake just long enough to gasp for air and go back to sleep. This interrupted sleep is what causes the health problems, far more than the apnea itself.

Generally, the most often used, and is still considered the best treatment that is non-surgical for sleep apnea is the CPAP machine. This machine delivers air to the tissues that are responsible for the apnea either through a facemask or through a nasal mask. This air is pressurized and keeps the airways unobstructed. A person who is CPAP intolerant will have problems with this and be unable to feel comfortable either due to the air pressure that holds the tissues open or even the masks.

Occasionally, in the past, an oral appliance was also used with a CPAP to help home the tissues open. This has only been used in conjunction until relatively recently. An oral appliance has been approved by the FDA for sleep apnea, this makes only three approved treatments for sleep apnea that do not involve surgery.

Whether you use a CPAP machine, an oral appliance, or a combination of both, it is only going to help if you suffer from obstructive sleep apnea. If that is the form of sleep apnea that you have, you can find comfortable ways to deal with it without having to go the route of surgery.

A good dentist with experience in OSA can assist with a screening and finding a sleep lab for you. In fact, there are now even ways to record breathing problems while sleeping from your home if you are a good candidate. Your dentist, who is trained in Dental Sleep Medicine, can help fit you with an oral appliance which is custom made for each patient and will keep the airways open for a good night’s sleep.

Don’t wake up every morning feeling as though you haven’t slept. If you even suspect that you have sleep apnea, find a professional to help you pin down the cause and find a solution that fits you.

The Relationship Between TMJ and Headaches

TMJ disorders, otherwise known as Temporomandibular Joint Disorder, include the joint of the jaw and the muscles that surround it. These disorders can often be very painful and may include symptoms that mimic other conditions. These may include neck and shoulder pain and headaches and often make it difficult to yawn, eat, or swallow. It is not unusual for people to go to their medical doctor due to this pain and be tested for many different things such as tumors or herniated discs, only to find there is nothing wrong in those areas. This can become quite expensive after the use of MRI’s or CT-Scans. TMJ and headaches are extremely common and often is a relatively easy thing to treat after diagnosis from a dental expert.

Many times, people that have TMJ will go years with severe headaches that doctors can find no reason for. It is often stumbled upon during a dental exam, or only after a patient learns what the symptoms are and proceeds to make an appointment with a dental practitioner that specializes in TMJ and headaches. Some of the symptoms may be a clicking or popping sound in the jaw when the jaw is fully opened, or even the inability to open the jaw completely. For many people this creates no pain or is not evident, but it may be noticed that when opening the jaw completely, the jaw will “slip” to the side during the movement.

One of the most powerful nerves in the body, the trigeminal nerve, is responsible for the sensations in your face, jaws, and sinuses. It is also directly related to the nerves that control sensation to the head, neck and throat. When you think about it, that is an enormous area for these nerves to be responsible for. These nerves have several fingers, or branches, that go through the temporomandibular joint. Should the nerves become damaged, and you can experience the results of TMJ and headaches.

There have been many treatments used over the years in order to treat TMJ and headaches, including surgeries; most of these do not work as successfully as hoped. Treatment for TMJ and headaches is done on a per patient basis, as the findings of tests are going to vary. One of the most popular, and one that seems to work the best is the wearing of two different appliances, one during the day and one at night. This is a far less invasive treatment approach that seems to work very well in most people that suffer from TMJ and headaches.

Even if you don’t remember any accident that may have caused injury to the jaw area, if you are suffering from migraines and doctors have found no true cause, pay attention to the other signs of TMJ, but don’t rely on them. Make an appointment with a dental professional that specializes in TMJ disorders and learn if they can help reduce your pain or eliminate it altogether.