If you snore on a nightly basis, this could be due to a common (but serious) disorder known as sleep apnea. To help ease symptoms and provide relief, we can offer oral appliance therapy instead of a CPAP machine! In today’s blog, your team at Mansfield Dental Associates talks about treating sleep apnea in Mansfield, TX.
The Onset of Sleep Apnea
What is obstructive sleep apnea? With this disorder, while you sleep at night the soft tissues in the back of your mouth and in your throat become too relaxed and then collapse, which cuts off airflow. You stop breathing for a few seconds until the brain wakes you to resume breathing. While you may not recall this happening, it can happen hundreds of times in a single night, leaving you exhausted the next day.
People with the disorder often experience chronic snoring, daytime drowsiness, irritability, and trouble concentrating on tasks at work or school. There could also be memory concerns, and episodes of waking in the night gasping for air or choking. Don’t ignore these, as an untreated case is linked to heart issues!
Creating a Custom Oral Appliance
If our team finds you have sleep apnea, then we can offer an alternative to the traditional CPAP machine. Our team will take detailed images of your bite from multiple angles with an intraoral camera, and use these to design and craft a custom oral appliance, which will fit like a mouthguard.
When worn, the oral appliance will gently shift your jaw and tongue forward to keep airways open and free of collapse. You avoid snoring and wake up feeling more rested and refreshed. The appliance is easy to use, simple to clean, and it can travel with if you have a summer trip on the horizon.
Tips for Better Rest
You can also make a few helpful changes to your sleeping routine to help combat the disorder. Be sure you rest on your side instead of your back to help prevent soft tissue collapse, and avoid screens in the hour before bed. Keep your bedroom dark and cool, preferably screen-free. Try to avoid large meals, vigorous exercise, and caffeine in the two hours before bed.
If you have any questions about how to avoid the impacts of sleep apnea with a custom oral appliance then reach out to our office today to learn more and get started. You deserve a good night’s rest, and we want to help with a custom oral appliance!
Our Team Offers Custom Oral Appliance Therapy
We want to help you rest easier, and to feel more refreshed and alert during the day. To learn more about treating snoring and more, or schedule your appointment, call our Mansfield, TX, dental team today at 817-473-6227.
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