Do you or your partner snore so loudly every night that it’s affecting your quality of sleep, your energy level during the day, and even your relationship? Do you wake up choking or gasping for air during the night? Do you still feel exhausted even after a full night’s rest? You may be one of millions suffering from sleep apnea. Snoring may seem trivial, but sleep apnea left untreated can actually be deadly. The good news is, we have a simple solution for you—no CPAP required!
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Sleep apnea is a common type of sleep-disordered breathing. There are three kinds of sleep apnea—obstructive, central, and mixed. Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common and occurs when the soft tissues in the back of the throat collapse and block the airway. Central sleep apnea occurs when the brain fails to send the proper signals to tell the body to breathe. Mixed sleep apnea is a combination of the two.
You know how important quality sleep is, and you also know how important breathing is if you want to… you know, stay alive. When your breathing stops so many times per night, blood oxygen levels decrease, leading to high blood pressure, a weakened immune system, and an increased risk of developing many serious and deadly systemic diseases. If you value your health and quality of life, it would be wise to consider seeking treatment.
Obstructive sleep apnea is caused by the soft tissues in the back of the throat collapsing and obstructing the airway. But why does this happen? There are many factors that may contribute to and increase your risk, including:
One of the most common telltale signs of sleep apnea is chronic snoring, but there are many other symptoms you should look out for, including:
Sleep apnea can dramatically impact your quality of sleep, your quality of life during the day, and increase your risk for developing serious and deadly health problems, including:
CPAPs remain the gold standard for treatment of sleep apnea, but many people find them intolerable. When finding restful sleep is already the nature of the problem, adding a face mask connected to a tube connected to a loud machine that’s designed to force air in and out of your lungs to the equation isn’t very helpful. Plus, they require an electrical outlet to be plugged in, so you can forget about camping, and they’re extremely bulky and difficult to travel with.
Not to mention the machine and hose require frequent cleaning, otherwise you’re at risk of inhaling bacteria that will only make matters worse. It’s no wonder so many people have tried and ditched their CPAPs. In fact, many clinicians find compliance rates to be low, ranging from 30-60%. So, what’s the point if it’s not going to be used? Surely there’s a better way. Indeed, there is! Oral appliance therapy is a wonderful alternative to traditional CPAP therapy.
Oral appliance therapy is just what it sounds like—an oral appliance similar to a nightguard that you wear during sleep. But this device is special. It’s custom-fitted to your mouth, gently shifting the lower jaw forward which prevents the collapse of the airway. This small shift in the position of your lower jaw can keep your airway open all night, allowing you to breathe comfortably on your own.
If you have any questions about sleep apnea or oral appliance therapy, or you’re ready to schedule a consultation with your Fuquay-Varina sleep apnea dentists, Dr. McCormick, Dr. Meunier, or Dr. Adams at Fuquay Family Dentistry, get in touch with us today! We look forward to helping you find a solution for better sleep and a better quality of life.
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