When you often feel tired despite sleeping the night before, or suffer from chronic snoring and episodes of waking suddenly, you could have sleep apnea. Without treatment, this disorder could leave you exhausted and strain your heart health in some cases. In today’s blog, your Pella, IA, dentist talks about our noninvasive treatment for sleep apnea.
The Facts About Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea means that as you sleep, you stop breathing for brief moments until the brain wakes you. This means that the soft tissues in the back of your mouth and in your throat collapse to cut off airflow. You may not remember waking up, but this interrupts your sleep cycle, often hundreds of times in a single night. As a result, you may experience daytime drowsiness, snoring, waking up gasping for air or choking, dry mouth, irritability, and trouble concentrating. When this happens, let us know right away. Otherwise, untreated sleep apnea could mean an increased risk of illness due to a weakened immune system. The stress on your heart health could cause heart disease, high blood pressure, and a higher risk of stroke and heart attack.
Creating an Oral Appliance
Instead of using a loud and cumbersome CPAP machine, we can offer a more comfortable and noninvasive treatment option. To begin, we will take detailed digital images of your smile from multiple angles. We then combine them to create an impression. In a dental lab, we use the impression to create a mouthguard-like device that is worn as you sleep. The oral appliance will shift the jaw forward to prevent the collapse of soft tissues and keep airways open. You avoid symptoms of sleep apnea, and obtain a good night’s rest without periodic interruptions.
Better Sleep Habits
You can also help with a few changes to your routine. For example, maintain a good sleep schedule by going to bed and waking up at the same time each day. You should also avoid caffeine, excessive alcohol, and large meals or vigorous exercise in the two hours before bed. Keep your bedroom dark and cool as well. Avoid screens right before bed, as the blue light from your smartphones and other devices could make it difficult to fall asleep. If you have any questions about how we diagnose and treat these concerns, then contact our team today to learn more. You still have time to see us and even use your 2022 dental benefits before they expire!
Do You Have Trouble Resting?
Our team is ready to help you rest once again without interruption, improving your quality of life. Contact Allen & Neumann Family Dentistry in Pella, IA by calling 641-628-1121 to learn more about enjoying a good night’s rest again.