If you often feel exhausted during the day, but also suffer from headaches and chronic snoring, then you may be experiencing the common symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Unless treated, this could lead to long-term impacts on your immune system and heart health. Find out how your Tucson, AZ, dentist treats OSA with custom appliance therapy in today’s blog!
Snoring and Other Warning Signs
With obstructive sleep apnea, your soft tissues in the rear of your mouth and in your throat become too relaxed as you sleep, collapsing and cutting off airflow. You stop breathing for a brief moment until the brain wakes you. These interruptions prevent you from reaching the REM stage of sleep, so even though you think you slept the night before, you were essentially woken up hundreds of times. As a result, you’re sleep deprived and exhausted during the day. You may feel irritable and have trouble focusing on your work or tasks. Staying awake behind the wheel is difficult and you could experience dry mouth and headaches. Other warning signs include persistent snoring and waking suddenly struggling to breathe or choking.
The Dangers of Sleep Apnea
If you begin to experience one or more of the warning signs we discussed above, please let us know as soon as possible. These interruptions to your rest could mean a weakened immune system. As a result, you could become sick more frequently, complicating your daily life. Over time, this could also strain your cardiovascular system and as a result, increase the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, and even stroke and heart attack. People with the disorder also tend to develop depression as well.
Treatment with Custom Appliance
How do we treat the disorder and restore your ability to rest properly? Well, we often do so with a comfortable oral appliance! After we take detailed impressions, images, and measurements of your smile we design and craft an appliance. Worn at night as you sleep, the device fits like a mouthguard but actually moves the jaw forward to prevent the collapse of soft tissues. You breathe without difficulty and feel more rested during the day. You could also make positive changes to your sleep routine, such as maintaining a regular schedule of when you go to bed and wake up, avoiding caffeine or excessive amounts of alcohol before bed, and resting on your side instead of your back. If you have any questions, the please contact our team today.
Do You Have Questions About Preventive Dentistry?
At our Tucson, AZ, dentist’s office, we can help you enjoy a better night’s rest with our custom oral appliances. If you have questions about preventive dental care, contact us today to schedule a visit by calling our office at 520-296-5439.