Poor sleep could lead to issues with your quality of life and how you interact with others, or even how well you do at your job. Often, chronic snoring and sleep apnea could be a source of poor rest for people. In today’s blog, your El Paso, TX, dentists talk about treating snoring and sleep apnea with a custom oral appliance.
Snoring and Other Symptoms
Do you snore on a nightly basis? If so, this could be a warning sign of sleep apnea. This common disorder causes us to stop breathing for brief moments several times a night. Even if we don’t realize this happens, it can interrupt our sleep cycle and leave us exhausted during the day. The cessation of breathing occurs when the soft tissues in the throat and the back of the mouth collapse and block air flow, until the brain wakes you to resume breathing. This can cause periods of gasping for air or choking while you rest. During the day, you may notice headaches, dry mouth, irritability, and exhaustion.
Causes and Impacts
When you encounter the symptoms we discussed above, you should see us right away for a diagnosis and to begin treatment. Sleep apnea could be caused by a large neck circumference, sinus and allergy issues, deviated septum, or complications with the growth and development of the jaw and key oral structures. Over time, this could strain the immune system so more frequent illness is a possibility. For others, this could stress the cardiovascular system, leading to a higher risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and heart attack.
Creating Your Oral Appliance
While CPAP machines have been used effectively, they are often very cumbersome and loud, and many people simply stop using them, allowing sleep apnea to grow in severity. Which is why we offer a comfortable alternative with an oral appliance. The device looks like a mouthguard and is worn while you sleep. But the device is actually custom-fitted for your smile and shifts your jaw so you avoid the collapse of soft tissues as you rest. You then enjoy a good night’s rest without interruption, and feel more alert during the day, improving your overall quality of life.
If you have any questions about how we diagnose and treat chronic snoring and sleep apnea, then contact our team today to learn more. We want to help you enjoy relief from common sleep disorders.
TALK TO SUNNY SMILES IN EL PASO, TX, ABOUT TREATING CHRONIC SNORING
Our team wants to help you rest easier at night again with the use of our custom and comfortable oral appliances. If you’re ready to schedule a visit and enjoy a better night’s rest, then contact our Sunny Smiles location on N Zaragoza Rd in El Paso, TX at 915-849-9000.