When you suffer from daytime drowsiness and difficulties concentrating or with memory, then you may have sleep apnea. To help you breathe without obstruction at night, we can treat your sleep apnea with a custom and comfortable oral appliance. In today’s blog, your Livonia, MI, dentist talks about treatment with an oral appliance.
When to Seek Treatment for Sleep Apnea
What are the common warning signs of sleep apnea? The disorder means that as we breathe, the air passages are cut off by the collapse of soft tissues in our throat and the back of our mouth. We stop breathing briefly until the brain registers the drop in oxygen and wakes us to resume. Even if we don’t recall this happening, this interrupts our REM sleep multiple times a night. Warning signs include chronic snoring, waking suddenly gasping for air or choking, irritability, dry mouth, headaches, and trouble concentrating or issues with your short-term memory. When one or more of these potential warning signs apply to you, then please reach out today for a diagnosis and to discuss possible solutions.
Creating and Custom-Fitting Your Oral Appliance
If our team completes a new exam and finds that an occlusal device is the best option, we will take detailed measurements and digital images of your smile from multiple angles, so we can custom-fit the device for your smile. The oral splint is then worn as you sleep, fitting like a mouthguard and providing a much more convenient and comfortable treatment than the CPAP machine. The oral appliance shifts your jaw and tongue forward to keep airways open and free of obstructions, so you breathe without interruption. The device is easy to use and clean, and can travel with you too!
Better Sleep Habits
Along with a custom mouthguard to ensure uninterrupted breathing, you can also make positive changes to your sleep tourney in 2024. For example, you can go to bed and wake up at the same times daily to establish a routine, and also avoid large meals, excessive alcohol, vigorous exercise in the two hours before going to bed. Cut back on caffeinated products in the evening, and keep your bedroom dark and cool too. Try to avoid screens right before bed as well.
If you have any questions about oral appliance therapy or sleep apnea in general, then contact our team today to learn more. We want to help you rest with ease again 2024 and beyond, so you enjoy a better quality of life.
DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT ORAL APPLIANCE THERAPY?
Our team wants to help you rest with ease and avoid the symptoms of untreated sleep apnea. If you’re ready to try an oral appliance, call about a consultation with Dr. Stewart and his staff in Livonia, Michigan at 734-425-4400.
