SNORING AND OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA
Breathing through a narrow airway or windpipe produces vibrations that cause the loud sound of snoring. Snoring
happens at night when the muscles relax and have difficulty keeping the airway open. A shift in jaw position
changes the shape of the airway. The soft tissue in the throat can collapse and the tongue can fall back into the throat. The result is a small opening to breathe through, a narrow airway.
Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the airway completely collapses and blocks airflow into the lungs. The more difficult to breathe, the tighter the airway seals. The breathing stops because the airway is closed. Without enough oxygen, the brain has to wake up the patient enough to start breathing again. The patient may or may not be aware that they have stopped breathing. A sleep mate will often hear the patient gasp or choke when they are able to breathe again!
If a patient snores or has sleep apnea, they need a TAP®. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends oral appliances, like the TAP®, as a first line of treatment for mild and moderate sleep apnea and in cases when continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) has not worked.
HOW THE TAP® WORKS
The TAP® holds the lower jaw in a forward position so that it does not shift nor fall open during the night. This prevents the airway from collapsing. The TAP® is the only mandibular advancement device that can be adjusted by the patient or practitioner while in the mouth.
The TAP® 3 can help prevent conditions that are linked to Sleep Apnea: Chronic
Sleepiness. High Blood Pressure. Heart Attack. Stroke. Heartburn. Morning Headaches.
Depression.
For more information, visit the EndSNORE website.
