Do you snore each night, or also struggle with daytime drowsiness and moodiness? If so, this could include a serious disorder known as sleep apnea. Treatment is crucial for your long-term health and quality of life! In today’s blog, your team at Sunny Smiles Family Dentistry talks about how we treat snoring and sleep apnea with an oral appliance, one that fits comfortably and prevents the need for a CPAP machine!
The Presence of Snoring and Sleep Apnea
Does your significant other complain about your snoring each night? For some, this is due to partially obstructed airways, a common warning sign of sleep apnea. With this disorder, as you rest the airways are blocked by collapsing soft tissues, cutting off airflow. The brain wakes you once it registers the drop in oxygen, and while you may not remember this happening, it can interrupt your sleep several times a night. You then feel exhausted during the day, struggling with memory, mood, and the ability to concentrate. After enough time, this could also weaken your immune system and even threaten your heart health! But we can help with a custom oral appliance.
Help with an Oral Appliance
Once our team assesses your sleep apnea, we will take impressions of your bite with digital technology, using the information to design and craft a custom oral appliance, one fitted for your bite. You then wear this while you rest at night. When worn, the device shifts your tongue and jaw forward to prevent soft tissues from collapsing and obstructing airflow. You breathe without interruption, avoid snoring, and wake up feeling more rested and refreshed, all without the need for a CPAP machine. The oral appliance is easy to use and simple to clean, and it can travel with you too if you hit the road for a last-minute summer vacation.
Other Ways to Boost Sleep
In addition to oral appliance therapy, you can also help your sleep by going to bed and waking up at the same times every day, and by avoiding caffeine, large meals, and exercise in the two hours before bed. Try to stay screen-free in the hour before bed too. Resting on your side instead of your back is helpful too.
If you have any questions about how we diagnose and treat an issue like sleep apnea, or about other benefits of our custom oral appliances, then contact our team today to learn more and start treatment. We look forward to helping you rest easy again, so talk to our office today!
Call Sunny Smiles for Better Rest
Our team wants to help you wake each morning feeling rested and refreshed! To find out more about our office or to schedule an appointment, please call Sunny Smiles Family Dentistry at 915.849.9000 today.