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.

You are not alone! Recent research suggests that as many as 40%-50% of patients don’t use their prescribed CPAP machines. For those that do use it, it is a wonderful treatment often changing their lives by helping them sleep well.

Unfortunately, for many others using this bedside air breathing device is a nightmare. Patients often struggle with the hoses and masks, and they hate to travel with them. Many patients are simply just too claustrophobic with them in place. And untreated apnea can be life threatening especially in the earlier adult decades.

Luckily, for thousands of individuals, professional oral appliance therapy is now considered the standard of care but the American Academy of Sleep Medicine for mild to moderate OSA and for others who can not tolerate CPAP.

This well researched therapy involves the fitting of a custom made night time oral appliance. Current research has documented that the compliance is far greater with OAT than CPAP because of increased comfort, lack of sleeping constraints, no noise levels, and ease of transportability. Documented research also has shown that even 75% of successful CPAP users who tried OAT would in future take the OAT route even if they had to pay for it in its entirety. However, medical reimbursement for such therapy is quite common.

Patients seeking this type of treatment should be referred to dentist specifically trained in sleep disorders. These dentists work with your physician as part of your medical team in your diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing care. Should you find you find oral appliance therapy an effective option for you, you may not only sleep better, but you will feel better knowing that you are treating this life threatening condition.

To find out more about oral appliance therapy visit www.FreeMeFromCPAP.com .

While preparing for a presentation on snoring, I came across some interesting facts. According to the National Association of Home Builders,
• it is estimated that by 2015, 60% of upscale home constructions will include increasingly requested “two –master bedrooms”! These extra rooms can be used for visiting in-laws, returning children and friends, and — in growing numbers — snoring spouses.

In my practice, I have found that it’s not unreasonable to estimate 30 % of our patients, before treatment, are sleeping in separate rooms.

Lack of sleep isn’t just an inconvenience for merely a few people.
Recent polls by the National Sleep Foundation found:
• 67% of people who were married or living with someone reported their partner snored.
• People who had a partner with any type of sleep problem such as sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome and insomnia were more likely to say they had sleep-related problems themselves, including greater trouble falling asleep, more-frequent daytime sleepiness and fewer nights of satisfactory sleep.

These problems can lead to serious trouble. 13% of fatal car accidents are tied to drivers who drift off behind the wheel, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration . In the workplace, about $13 billion and 30 million workdays are lost each year because of sleep-related accidents on the job.

Does Your Snoring Make Your Bed Partner or Family Sick?
Sleep interruption caused by a spouse is “probably often the most common unresolved difficulty” in a marriage, Paul Rosenblatt, a professor at the University of Minnesota and author of the book, Two in a Bed: The Social System of Couple Bed Sharing. Snoring is not only affecting your sleep, but your bed partner and possibly you entire household, too. In fact, every time your wife/husband has to wake you up to tell you to roll over and stop snoring, you’re interrupting their sleep. The consequences of sleep deprivation often lead to serious health problems, including hypertension, stroke, diabetes, an increased risk for heart attacks and heart disease, depression and weight gain.

It’s rewarding for us not only to help the individual seeking help to get a better night sleep, but to be able tio bring couples back together in the same room peacefully. Sometimes patients are so quiet after treatment, that there spouses have actually awoken them up to make sure they are still breathing! We especially love to hear those stories.
You can start tonight and get the sleep you need to improve the quality of your life.

Dr. Sosenko is a Diplomate of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine and the founder of Dental Sleep Medicine of Illinois. She offers snoring and apnea patient’s relief through professional oral appliance device therapy. Visit www.TiredofSnoring.com or call her office, 630-369-5225, for more information.

People often thing snoring is “no big deal”.
However, snoring is dangerous to your health.
Play Dr. Sosenko’s video, to quickly learn how snoring is dangerous and what
you can do to help yourself stop snoring.

Dr. Sosenko would like to help you stop snoring.
You can contact her Naperville Office, Dental Sleep Medicine of Illinois at 1-800-SNORING.

Dental Sleep Medicine of Illinois is conveniently located in Naperville, Illinois. Our practice is 5 minutes south of I-88 and Naperville Road, 3 minutes from the downtown Naperville shopping district. Our office has ample parking to meet the needs of our patients.

for Dr. Lydia Sosenko, D.D.S., D.ABDSM of Dental Sleep Medicine of Illinois

You Snore. Your Bed Partner says you keep him/her up all night. How bad do you really snore?
Take this snore score test from the AWAKE group and see how you rate with other snorers.
Test and Information found below from http://www.sleepapnea.org/resources/pubs/snorescore.html.

WHAT’S YOUR SNORE SCORE?
Your answers to this quiz will help you decide whether you may suffer from sleep apnea:

Are you a loud and/or regular snorer?
 Yes  No

Have you ever been observed to gasp or stop breathing during sleep?
 Yes  No

Do you feel tired or groggy upon awakening, or do you awaken with a headache?
 Yes  No

Are you often tired or fatigued during the wake time hours?
 Yes  No

Do you fall asleep sitting, reading, watching TV or driving?
 Yes  No

Do you often have problems with memory or concentration?
 Yes  No

If you have one or more of these symptoms you are at higher risk for having obstructive sleep apnea. If you are also overweight, have a large neck, and/or have high blood pressure the risk increases even further.

If you or someone close to you answers “yes” to any of the above questions, you should discuss your symptoms with your physician or a sleep specialist. Or ask the American Sleep Apnea Association for more information on the diagnosis and treatment of sleep apnea. Different treatment options exist; which is right for you depends upon the severity of your apnea and other aspects of the disorder. Talk to your doctor about choices. Untreated, obstructive sleep apnea can be extremely serious and cannot be ignored.

Dr. Lydia Sosenko, of Dental Sleep Medicine of Illinois, can help you choose Oral Appliance Therapy as a treatment option for your snoring and sleep apnea. Visit www.TiredofSnoring.com for more information or call our Naperville Sleep Office, 1-800-SNORING, to schedule your consultation and to sleep!

In fact, it’s so dangerous, the American Sleep Assocation is Hosting a conference just to address Trucking and Sleep Issues. May 11-12 in Baltimore Maryland. Visit their site at this link The American Sleep Association Sleep Apnea and Trucking Converence

Facts and Numbers of Driving and Sleep Apnea

Below are the bullet points listed from the American Sleep Association’s website:

~Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and SafetyOSA afflicts at least 20 million Americans…more than asthma or diabetes, and yet more than 85% remain undiagnosed.
~People with OSA tend to have high blood pressure, heart problems, stroke, depression and sexual dysfunction with annual health care costs TWO TIMES HIGHER than those without OSA.
~People with OSA are SIX times more likely to have a crash and SEVEN TIMES more likely to have multiple accidents.
~More than 800,000 drivers were involved in OSA-related car crashes in 2000, costing more than $15.9 billion in damage claiming 1,400 lives.
~It’s estimated that if all drivers with OSA were treated, $11.1B in damages could be saved, along with 980 lives each year.
~MOST IMPORTANTLY, accident and health risks return to NORMAL when individuals are diagnosed and treated for OSA.

At Dental Sleep Medicine of Illinois, in Naperville, we strongly urge you to find out if you do have Obstructive sleep apnea. Visit your primary care physician to learn more.

Have you been diagnosed with sleep apnea and are looking for a CPAP-alternative? We can help! Dr. Lydia Sosenko, a diplomate of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine, and general dentist, offers Oral Appliance Therapy, an effective and convenient alternative to a CPAP.

Call our office today, 1-800-SNORING, in northern Illinois, or 630-369-5508.

We Love to Help Our Patients Sleep CPAP-Free!

Fact #2: Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT is) covered by most Medical Insurance, with the exception of Medicare and Medicaid. Most medical insurance policies will cover the Oral Appliance when Obstructive Sleep Apnea is diagnosed by a medical professional.

In the case of simple snoring, most policies do not currently pay for the Oral Appliance. However, there is no question that for a snorer, the OA is the best investment he/she can make in his/her health and domestic tranquility.

Our office staff will gladly file reimbursement claims for our patients. If you are not sure if your insurance will cover your Oral Appliance, we will help you send a pre-estimate to address you financial concerns.

Our office also offers alternative Financial Assistance.

Our goal, at Dental Sleep Medicine of Illinois, is not to let expense prevent you from benefiting from the quality of care you desire and need. When the treatment needed exceeds your budget, our financial coordinator can assist you in making alternative arrangements. We offer in office payment plans and third party financing companies. Care Credit is available to all qualifying patients. It takes less than 5 minutes to be approved on-line, while you are at our office or your home. Care Credit is interest free for 12 months, allowing our patients to set up a convienent payment plan to meet their individual needs.

Call our office today, 1-800-SNORING (in Northern Illinois), 630 369-5508. We’re located less than 5 minutes from I-88, just off Ogden Avenue, between Washington St. and Naper Blvd. Our friendly staff would love to help you get the sleep you need tonight!

Our Naperville office manager, Cathy Iversen, hears this question multiple times every day. 

What’s the answer?  Yes, your medical insurance does cover Oral Appliance Therapy, with the exception of Medicare and Medicaid.

In the next few days, we’ll add a video with our office manger explaining exactly how she works with patients to ensure they receive their maximum insurance reimbursement! 

Check back, make our site one of your favorites, and keep up to date on Dr. Sosenko’s latest updates.  We’d like to help you sleep through the night, CPAP-Free!

Remember, our Naperville office is conviently located just 3 miles from I-88, 5 minutes from downtown Naperville, and 5 minutes from I-355.  Dr. Sosenko treats patients from as far North as Libertyville, Barrington and Winnetka, West through Dekalb, Sugar Grove, Batavia and South through Mokena, Palos Hills and Orland Park.

Make an appointment for a consultation.  You’ll see why patients come from all over  for Dr. Sosenko and her sleep director, Maryellen Hughes.  1-800-SNORING.

Just the other day, our own sleep coordinator and oral appliance user, Mary Ellen Hughes, was waiting at a red light at the corner of Washington St. and Ogden Ave. in Naperville.  The light turned green and the cars in the right lane continued to wait . . . and wait. . .   Until someone started beeping their horn.  Cars began to pull around a sedan.  As Mary Ellen pulled around she saw the lady inside jerk her head up, look around and begin to cry.  What happened?  We think the driver fell asleep at the wheel while waiting at the red light.  Has this ever happened to you or someone you know? 

Be aware of the signs and symptoms of Drowsy Driving!  The following 7 signs were found on the National Sleep Foundations website. 

1.      Difficulty focusing, frequent blinking, or heavy eyelids

2.      Daydreaming; wandering/disconnected thoughts

3.      Trouble remembering the last few miles driven; missing exits or traffic signs

4.      Yawning repeatedly or rubbing your eyes

5.      Trouble keeping your head up

6.      Drifting from your lane, tailgating, or hitting a shoulder rumble strip

7.      Feeling restless and irritable

According to the National Sleep Foundation’s Sleep in America poll, 60% of Americans have driven while feeling sleepy and 37% admit to actually having fallen asleep at the wheel in the past year!!!

Visit the National Sleep Foundations Website for More information: http://www.sleepfoundation.org/

Are you wondering if  your Childs Snoring will affect his/her health?

All of  these questions are well documented and researched and the answers are more serious than you might think!!!

Snoring is a condition that may indicate a restricted air flow while sleeping.  In more severe cases it may indicate apnea.  This is a condition were breathing stops completely for many seconds before restarting.  Obstructive sleep apnea can be a life threatening condition.

If your child snores, they may have enlarged tonsils and adenoids.  They may also have a small mouth cavity.  The typical child may exhibit reduced daytime concentration or sleepiness.  Many are obese and show failure to thrive.  They may also have difficulty performing well in sports and activities.

Parents with children that exhibit these symptoms should have them screened.  Treatments include removal of tonsils and adenoids.  In other cases expansion of the palate and upper teeth with an oral appliance can help to increase the air space.  Snoring is not cute in children it may be an early warning sign of a more serious condition!  

Do you have more questions about your child’s snoring?  Call us today, 630 369-5225.  Dr. Lydia Sosenko, a General Family Dentist and Diplomate of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine, the founder of Dental Sleep Medicine of Illinois with offices in Naperville, Illinois,  treats adults and children in cities and communities throughout the Chicagoland area, including Aurora, Plainfield, Oswego, Downers Grove, Glen Ellyn, Lisle, Wheaton, Batavia, and many other locations. 

For more information on childrens snoring on the internet, follow these links:

About.com Pediatrics:  http://pediatrics.about.com/cs/conditions/a/snoring.htm

Medical News Today: Dangers of Snoring in Children: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/4257.php

CNN news/Health:  Snoring in Children May Indicate a Serious Problem  http://archives.cnn.com/2002/HEALTH/parenting/04/01/snoring.kids/index.html