What Are the Different Types of Sleep Apnea Supplies?

Since sleep apnea can be a potentially life threatening condition, it's important that sufferers have the proper sleep apnea supplies. This is because they help regulate the person's breathing, keep him safe and ensure a good night's sleep. Some of the most common types of sleep apnea supplies include a Continuous Positive Airflow Pressure (CPAP) device and oral devices. Deciding on a treatment is usually best done by an experienced sleep physician. In addition, a person's sleeping style should be taken into consideration, which should result in improved night time breathing and overall sleep patterns.

CPAP devices are the primary treatment for sleep apnea and come in a few different styles. The basic function of these devices is to give the sleeping person a steady stream of air in his nasal passages throughout the course of the night. Triangular masks are one variety that either fit over a person's nose or over a person's mouth and nose. These tend to be the most common style of CPAP device and usually work for most cases of sleep apnea.

There are also oral masks which only cover the mouth and have plugs that fit into the nose. These are primarily geared toward people that sleep with their mouth open. They also make use of a humidifier that prevents the throat from getting dried out.

An additional type of CPAP device is a nasal pillow mask. It serves the same function as the other two masks, but relies on two nasal plugs that fit inside the nostrils. These also have tubes that are situated over a person's head which allows him to comfortably sleep on his side.

Oral devices are sleep apnea supplies that also often work for people with mild symptoms or who don't like wearing a mask. There are two basic kinds of oral devices, with a mandibular advancement device being the most common. They look somewhat similar to the mouth guards worn by athletes and help to keep a person's airway open while he sleeps. This is primarily done by slightly forcing the lower jaw open throughout the night, which allows oxygen through.

Another of the sleep apnea supplies is a tongue retraining device. They also work by opening the airway, but by using a different technique. Instead of opening the jaw, a tongue retraining device uses a splint to keep the tongue in a fixed position. As a result, the person will receive a steady supply of oxygen.