When you’re getting poor sleep, what do you do? Maybe you reach for a melatonin supplement. Perhaps you try to improve your sleep hygiene by going to bed at the same time each night or listening to relaxing music as you doze off. These are all reasonable ways to deal with poor sleep. However, in some cases, you may be struggling with sleep due to an underlying condition called sleep apnea – and that’s something your orthodontist can help treat.

What Is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a condition that causes you to stop breathing while sleeping. When you stop breathing, you may briefly wake up – even if you’re not aware of it – which causes your sleep to be less restful and productive. Some people with sleep apnea stop sleeping hundreds of times per night. It’s no wonder they wake up feeling groggy, tired and unrested.

Here are some key signs your sleep problems may be due to sleep apnea:

- High Blood Pressure: People with high blood pressure are more likely to also struggle with sleep apnea.
- Headaches: If you wake up with headaches or have them in the morning, this could point to sleep apnea.
- Morning Exhaustion: People with sleep apnea often wake up feeling more tired than they were when they went to bed.
- Dry Mouth: If you wake up with a dry mouth, this could be because you were struggling to breath with an open mouth all night.

Diagnosing Sleep Apnea

If you think you may have sleep apnea, it is a good idea to see your doctor. They’re likely to recommend you undergo a sleep study. This testing will confirm whether you do, indeed, stop breathing throughout the night.

Sleep studies are non-invasive and relatively easy to complete. You’ll have to wear a few monitors to assess your breathing and heart rate, but there should not be any pain involved. Often, you’ll get a diagnosis within a few days, if not sooner.

Treating Sleep Apnea

There are several ways to treat sleep apnea. Many people opt for a C-Pap machine, which uses positive pressure to keep their airway open throughout the night. However, there are also orthodontic treatments that can help manage sleep apnea. Some people choose orthodontic treatments in place of using a C-Pap machine, and others use them in combination with C-Pap.

The exact treatments your orthodontist recommends for sleep apnea will depend on your dental health, the alignment of your teeth, and the position of your jaw. Here are a few common approaches.

Braces or Dental Aligners

If your teeth are poorly aligned, your jaw may be forced into a less than ideal position at night. This can cause your airway to become blocked, which can cause sleep apnea or worsen your symptoms.

Braces can help straighten misaligned teeth, allowing you to sleep with your jaw in a better position. In many cases, you may be able to use clear aligners instead of braces. They are nearly invisible on your teeth, and you can remove them to eat and brush your teeth, which makes it easier to maintain dental hygiene.

Palate Expander

People with narrow palates sometimes struggle with airway obstruction and sleep apnea. If your orthodontist finds that you have a narrow palate, they may recommend a device called a palate expander. This device slowly places pressure on either side of your palate. Over a period of several months, it causes your palate to widen, which should eventually ease your sleep apnea symptoms.

Mouthguard

Perhaps the most common orthodontic treatment for sleep apnea is a mouthguard. This is different from the mouthguards you can buy at the pharmacy, and from those commonly used to protect your mouth when playing sports. It will be custom-made to fit your mouth, and it will keep your jaw in the ideal position to keep your airway open so you can keep breathing through the night.

People who find C-Pap machines to be too cumbersome or ineffective often find that a custom mouthguard is a great alternative. There are also many patients who use a C-Pap in combination with an orthodontic mouthguard.

If you have trouble sleeping and often wake up feeling exhausted, it’s time to talk to your doctor or orthodontist about sleep apnea. If you are diagnosed with this condition, be sure to contact Rykiss Orthodontics for an appointment. We can evaluate your jaw and tooth alignment, then recommend the treatment that’s best for you. You deserve good rest, and as your orthodontist in Winnipeg, we can help you get it.