What Is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea can result when there is soft tissue in the back of throat that blocks airflow as a person sleeps. This causes the person to wake up because they aren’t getting enough oxygen – you might be awake for only a few seconds as your body struggles to breathe correctly, and you don’t even realize you were awake at all. When this happens over and over again (up to 30 times a night in some people), you end up very tired the next day. You might also have headaches, a dry mouth in the morning, and be irritable. Another symptom of sleep apnea is loud snoring.
Sleep apnea, if left untreated, can lead to serious health problems, such as diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure, just to name a few.
What Is the Treatment for Sleep Apnea?
In the past, the first option for treatment of sleep apnea was the CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine, a device you wear as you sleep. However, many patients find CPAP bulky and uncomfortable.
Your dentist, however, has another option – oral appliance therapy. Oral appliance therapy uses a simple mouth guard to help position the jaw correctly, so that the airway stays open all night. This mouth guard is similar to the ones that are worn during sports, and you wear it only during sleep. During your oral appliance appointment, your dentist will take impressions of your mouth and precise measurements so that you’ll have an appliance created just for you.
Are you concerned that you might have sleep apnea? Oral appliance therapy can help you to breathe easier, sleep better, and feel more alert during the day. Contact Soft Touch Dentistry for an oral appliance consultation. Contact the Brighton office at (617) 782-9250 or the Newton office at (617) 332-8146 for an appointment today!
