Do you snore? Well, about 90 million Americans do on a regular basis. Snoring occurs when tissues in the back of the throat relax to the point where they partially block the airway and emit a sound. Frequent snoring is one of the symptoms of sleep apnea. This is a potentially serious disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts while sleeping. Sleep apnea also causes the sufferer to feel tired and fatigued even after a full night’s rest. Luckily, there are ways of treating this problem, the best being oral appliance therapy.
What Is Oral Appliance Therapy?
Oral appliance therapy involves a custom-fit oral sleep appliance worn like an orthodontic retainer while sleeping. It helps to improve sleep, restore alertness and revitalize overall health! Oral appliance therapy is also proven to be an effective treatment for obstructive sleep apnea.
Forget the CPAP Machine!
There’s no need for the annoying masks, nostril prongs and tanks of water. Continuous positive airway pressure, or CPAP, machines result in many issues, such as dry, stuffy nose and mouth and difficulty sleeping; many people consider the machines to be obnoxious and uncomfortable. Worst of all, many patients using CPAP machines don’t ever see positive results.
On the other hand, people using oral appliance therapy often report that the treatment is:
- Unnoticeable
- Quiet (unlike CPAP)
- Portable
- Easy to care for
Sleep apnea is directly related to high blood pressure and can increase the risk of heart attack or stroke. It is definitely not something to take lightly! Improve your sleep, and your overall life, while protecting your health. Talk to your dentist about oral appliance therapy and how to get started.
For more information about sleep apnea or how oral appliance therapy can help, call us today at 724-220-2347.
