People suffering from sleep apnea have been advised to see if cosmetic dentistry procedures could help, after a new report has revealed a link between oral treatments and the illness.

Research by the Pennsylvania Dental Association (PDA) showed that equipment offered by dentists can be helpful to some patients suffering from sleep apnea.

Dr David Stanton from the PDA said: “Oral appliances and surgical procedures offered by dentists and oral and maxillofacial surgeons can be very beneficial in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea.”

The studies found that by using devices that reposition the lower jaw and tongue, sufferers find some relief from the problem.

Sleep apnea is a disorder that causes people to stop breathing when they are sleeping and is considered a serious condition by the organisation.

Individuals who suspect they have the complaint are advised to be assessed by a dental professional as it has been linked to high blood pressure, heart attacks and strokes.

Wearing a mouthguard when playing sports was recently encouraged by the American Dental Association, which said that failure to have one can lead to an increased risk of the need for emergency dentistry.