Sleep Apnea Mouthpiece

Oropharyngeal Exercises for Alleviating Breathing Issues during Sleep

Sleep Apnea Mouthpiece

Oropharyngeal And Sleep Apnea

Oropharyngeal refers to an area of the throat to the back of the mouth, comprising of the uvula, tonsils, soft tissues, and back of the tongue. Doing an oropharyngeal exercise can help to alleviate disordered breathing conditions during sleep such as snoring and apnea. Such exercises will strengthen the throat muscles and can avoid it from collapsing while you sleep.

The purpose of an oropharyngeal exercise is to improve the muscle tone associated with the opening of the upper airway, which comprises of the jaw, throat muscles, and tongue palates. If the root cause of your snoring and other breathing issues during sleep is a receding tongue, the exercise meant to strengthen the tongue and its nearby muscles would help greatly in alleviating the condition.

In case you breathe through an open mouth during sleep and snoring occurs due to that, it is worth considering using oral appliances such as a sleep apnea mouthpiece that trains you to sleep with the mouth closed. The prime intention of such snoring remedies is to open the airway for a free flow of air during sleep and cure the health issue without any side effects. The same goes true for oropharyngeal exercises that are meant to reduce apnea episodes during sleep.

Some of such throat and mouth exercises even have the backing of clinical studies just as it is with a proven anti snoring mouthpiece or any other snoring remedy that works on improving the structure of the airway. It is believed that an instrument such as the didgeridoo was used to improve the same in the past, and oropharyngeal exercises were invented as an advanced form of speech therapy that could cure mild to moderate sleep apnea.

Such exercises for breathing disorders during sleep can as easy as putting the tongue’s tip on the surface of the mouth and sliding it backward or opening the mouth to its full and ensuring that your lips meet while closing the mouth. To get the desired results of an oropharyngeal exercise, a snorer should practice the same several times throughout a day or at least for a total of half an hour in intervals of 3 minutes or so. Even singing the vowel sounds with an open throat is a form of such exercises.

Relatively Less Known Symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Sleep Apnea Mouthpiece

Obstructive Sleep Apnea Symptoms

Two of the common obstructive sleep apnea symptoms include loud, persistent snoring and daytime fatigue. Sleep apnea is characterized by snoring and breathing cessations that may last for a few seconds to up to an hour of sleep. When an apnea episode occurs, sleeper wakes up momentarily gasping for breath.

If left untreated, the health issue can affect the respiratory system and even lead to premature death. However, the sleep disorder is not without treatments, one of them being the sleep apnea mouthpiece that advances the lower jaw for a better flow of air. It is suggested especially for mild to moderate apnea with loud snoring.

Even a home sleep study is advised to individuals to diagnose apnea through the existence of its associated symptoms. It is based on the findings of the diagnosis done at home of the person that non-invasive treatments are prescribed to them in oral appliance therapy. However, even though the anti snoring mouthpiece can be bought over-the-counter, proper diagnosis is a must to understand if the person suffers from apnea and necessitates timely treatment.

Below are two relatively less known symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea.

Acid Reflux

Heartburn is a relatively less known sign that may signify the probability of apnea. A majority of people with acid reflux tend to wake up from a deep sleep state. Breathing obstruction can suction up the digestive fluids known as gastric juice, which gets secreted inside the stomach. This secretion of gastric acid may increase after bedtime, which can reduce the pressure in the upper esophageal sphincter.

Once acid suctions up and reaches the throat, it may lead to swelling of the throat area. If you have tonsils, the throat may enlarge, and if so, that may obstruct the normal breathing process.

That is why doctors suggest healthy eating practice before bedtime in oral appliance therapy in order to help people reduce acid reflux. Besides, it is advisable not to eat around 3 to 4 hours prior to sleep, especially if you suffer from sleep apnea.

Bed Wetting

Although involuntary urination during the night is associated with children, it can also indicate apnea among adults. If you suffer from bed wetting in childhood, you may encounter other apnea symptoms such as loud snoring, waking up from sleep due to coughing, and sleep patterns similar to sleepwalking disorder.

Bed wetting worsens even as other symptoms of sleep apnea advances through aging. Therefore, those suffering from this condition should seek treatment timely treatment from health care experts.

3 Signs to Tell if you Suffer from Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Sleep Apnea Mouthpiece

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Despite the health risks associated with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), many people are yet to know the symptoms of the sleep disorder. Obstructive Sleep Apnea stems from breathing cessations and can be diagnosed by a sleep specialist. However, if you can tell the symptoms of OSA beforehand, you can recover in time by taking the right remedies for the betterment of sleep. Below are three signs that may tell if you suffer from OSA or not.

Check your Sleep Patterns

Most patients snore due to blockages in the throat. One of the common symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnea is loud, persistent snoring, which may worsen gradually over time until the patient gets medical attention. In an OSA patient, the soft tissue may collapse into the airways causing a vibration while breathing and in turn breathing cessations.

Other symptoms of OSA are gasping sounds in sleep due to breathing cessations and maybe even sleepwalking. In fact, you can use a self-monitoring app to record your sleep patterns if you live alone or may tell your partner to take notice instead.

Notice for Daytime Fatigue

Sometimes, it may be harder to tell whether you are a snorer or if you encounter other sleeping difficulties. Even if you sleep for 8 hours at night, and feel jaded overnight and sleepy during the day, chances are you snore and suffer from Obstructive Sleep Apnea that is unknown to you.

Besides, the need for alleviating jadedness by taking naps in the day can be a sign of OSA, particularly if you are going to bed in the nick of time each day.

Pay Heed to Other Telling Signs

People suffering from the sleep disorder tend to sleep with an open mouth, struggling for breath. In fact, this sleeping posture will dry the mouth and throat, and might cause a sore throat in the morning. In addition, a vascular headache may occur the following day, since the low oxygen levels may widen the blood vessels in the brain. Such headaches are common in those experiencing nighttime breathing cessations and thereby suffer from Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Apart from these signs, mood swings or depression may also indicate you are in need of curing snoring. A sleep apnea mouthpiece can be a good countermeasure as it will not only help to stop snoring but also improve the quality of sleep. Better yet, consult with a sleep expert as soon as you notice any snoring or sleep apnea related symptoms.

Key Things to Consider While Purchasing a Snoring Mouth Guard

Most doctors will recommend using a snoring mouthpiece if you suffer from snoring and sleep apnea. These devices are highly sought over by many as an effective solution to cure snoring. However, you may find it difficult to choose the right one for your needs considering the variety of snoring devices available in the market today. Due to this, many even buy the wrong type of device, some of which are very expensive, but fail to treat the snoring condition.

As the underlying causes of snoring differ, not all snoring mouth guards work equally for everyone. Therefore, it is highly important to choose the appropriate snoring mouthpiece whether it is a sleep apnea mouthpiece or other kinds of snoring aids.

An effective method to completely cure snoring is possible only by choosing the right snoring device. Described below are some crucial things to consider when buying a snoring mouth guard.

Comfort

Anti-snoring mouthpieces are designed in a way to be comfortable to use for everyone. This however differs from device to device, and you should consider the comfort levels of using the product before deciding to purchase it.

Purchasing a wrongly fitting mouthpiece that falls short on comfort is a waste of money and may not provide the benefits that you expect when using the device. Moreover, if the mouthpiece is hard, it can cause irritation and even tears in the delicate tooth gums. This can make using mouthpieces an uncomfortable experience, so carry out a detailed research on the mouthpiece before you intend to purchase one.

Safety Features

The safety is one key priority when you are choosing a snoring mouthpiece. This is highlighted because some of the cheap anti snoring devices currently available in the market are made from materials hazardous to health.

The lack of strict regulations is one reason such snoring devices make their way into the market. So when purchasing a snoring mouthpiece, carefully inspect its label and packaging and verify that it manufactured from BPA free materials. The safety of the mouthpiece is paramount since you will need to use the device for extended periods.

Money Back Guarantee

Another crucial thing to consider is whether the anti snoring mouthpiece that you intend to purchase comes with a money back guarantee. This enables you to try using the device for a while to find whether it fits well or is comfortable. If it does not you can get your money refunded.

Genuine mouthpieces made by certified manufacturers will offer a money back guarantee on their products. However, note that it is common that when using a snoring mouth guard for the first time, you may find it a bit uncomfortable. It requires a few days for you to get adjusted to using the device.