A Custom Oral Appliance Could Stop Sleep Apnea

cleveland sleep apnea

When you suffer from sleep apnea, this could leave you feeling exhausted and even impact your heart health! In today’s blog, your Cleveland, TX, dentist will discuss how we approach diagnosing and treating sleep apnea, and how a simple oral appliance could help you enjoy a good night’s rest, and better quality of life.

The Causes and Dangers of Sleep Apnea

The disorder could be caused by a number of factors, including family history of sleep issues, large neck circumference, obesity, age (55 and older are primary sufferers), deviated septum, and even sinus and allergy issues. With sleep apnea, the soft tissues in the back of your mouth and in your throat become too relaxed and collapse, blocking airflow. You stop breathing for brief periods until the brain wakes you, interrupting your sleep cycle. Over time, this leaves you feeling exhausted and could strain your immune system, so you become sick more frequently. In addition, the stress on your cardiovascular system could boost the risk of heart disease, hypertension, stroke, and heart attack.

Warning Signs to Watch For

People with the disorder may report daytime exhaustion, moodiness, trouble concentrating on tasks at work or school dry mouth, and headaches. Chronic snoring is also a common warning sign too. If you report one or more of these common symptoms, then we may suggest a diagnosis to see if you need treatment. Care could help you enjoy a better night’s rest once again!

Creating Your Custom Oral Appliance

We start by taking detailed digital images and measurements of your smile, which we use in a dental lab to design and create an oral appliance. The device acts like a mouthguard and is custom-fitted to your smile. The appliance will fit comfortably and at night moves the jaw forward to keep airways open and prevent interruptions to your sleep. You then avoid the common symptoms and obtain a better quality of life due to better rest.

You can also take other steps to help improve how well you rest. In the two hours before bed, avoid vigorous exercise, large meals, or caffeinated products. Limit alcohol consumption, and also make sure your bedroom is dark and cool. Avoid screens right before bed, especially smartphone screens, as the blue light the device emits looks like sunlight to your brain. Maintaining a sleep schedule is helpful too! Basically, just go to bed and wake up at the same times every day.

Your Cleveland, TX Dentist’s Office Helps Stop Sleep Disorders

Cleveland Family Dentistry in Cleveland, TX is ready to help you enjoy a better night’s rest. To learn more about our process of diagnosing and treating sleep apnea, then contact our office at (281) 592-1234 to schedule your appointment today.