Sleep apnea is a sleeping disorder characterized by obstruction in the back of the mouth, making breathing difficult. Sleep apnea is often undetected because the main symptom is particularly loud snoring. Anybody who might notice is usually asleep too. However, the medical practitioners know that sleep apnea can be a serious sleep disorder that can leave the sufferer breathless for several seconds on end without realizing it. It's a good thing that a dentist in Huntersville NC can provide special devices to assist in treating the disorder.

There is obstructive sleep apnea characterized by the muscles around the mouth relaxing too much that the tongue moves backward and blocks the windpipe. The snoring is the sign of difficulty in breathing. The person snoring forcibly breathes in but because of the obstruction, each breath is insufficient.

There is a dentist Huntersville NC residents can go to for sleep apnea treatment. The dentist can make a mandibular advancement device; this looks like a mouth guard with rubber bands to hold the jaws still. This holds the upper jaw down and forward and keeps the muscles from relaxing too much.

There is also a tongue restraining device that keeps the tongue in place. This is somewhat less commonly applied because it tends to make the user salivate more than usual, leading to dehydration. It can also be mildly painful for some patients. However, it is effective because it keeps the airway open; patients tend to become used to the device in time.

There are dentists who practice orthodontic treatment for sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea is sometimes attributed to having a narrow upper jaw. A narrow upper jaw supposedly puts pressure on the nasal cavity, making breathing difficult especially during sleep when the muscles relax.

The dentist can place a temporary screw device applied on the upper teeth. This is tightened like braces, little by little at a time, to widen the upper jaw. This can be uncomfortable but treatable by pain management medication. For this device and the previous one, there are dentists who advise patients to drink a lot of water to prevent dehydration because objects introduced into the mouth stimulate salivation.

As an alternative treatment, a dentist in Huntersville NC advises that patients to sleep on their abdomen or side instead of on the back. This moves the tongue and jaws forward, keeping the airway free. Other doctors also advise on maintaining normal weight; overweight people tend to be prone to obstructive sleep apnea because of heavier tissues on the face.