From Sherman Oaks Dental of Naperville: “ There are New Benefits to Eating”

Our Naperville Dentists have found no sweat exercises to improve your sleep and improve your life!

Can swallowing really help you sleep better? Recent studies suggest that certain exercises of the tongue and throat muscles can improve sleep, reduce snoring and reduce daytime sleepiness in apnea patients. Researchers used exercises that have been used by speech therapists treating swallowing disorders. Using isometric tongue and throat exercises that focus on strength and endurance, a study found that they have promise in treating apnea patients. Other studies included daily practice with a “digeridoo” —Australian instrument and balloon blowing. Exercises were completed for about 30 minutes, five times a week. Results showed reduced neck circumference and reduction in apnea severity for patients that performed tongue and throat exercises. As with all exercise, check with your doctor before trying. If you have TMJ problems, please see a doctor before attempting these exercises.

Here are a few to try:

1. Place your tongue tip behind your front teeth and push the tongue back towards the back sliding it along the roof of your mouth. Push your tongue hard against the soft palate and swallow.
2. In front of a mirror, open your mouth and stick your tongue straight out of your mouth and then pull it back to behind the front teeth. Keep your jaw stable and complete number 1.
3. Try number one for 15 reps saying “eee” and “ing”

For more information about sleep apnea and treatment, contact our Naperville Dental Sleep and TMD Center at:
Lydia Sosenko, D.D.S., D.ABDSM
Dental Sleep Medicine of Illinois (630)369-5508
1-800-SNORING in Northern IL only
TiredOfSnoring.com

Article Summary of:
1: Puhan MA, Suarez A, Lo Cascio C, Zahn A, Heitz M, Braendli O. Didgeridoo
playing as alternative treatment for obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome:
randomised controlled trial. BMJ. 2006 Feb 4;332(7536):266-70. Epub 2005 Dec 23.
2.PubMed PMID: 16377643; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC1360393.

Tags: apnea, exercises improve sleep, Naperville, reduce daytime sleepiness, reduce snoring, reduction in apnea severity, sherman oaks dental, sleep apnea treatment, swallowing disorders, throat exercises, tired of snoring, tmj problems

This entry was posted on June 28, 2010 at June 28, 2010 and is filed under Information From Out Dentists, Sleep Article Summary. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.