Sleep Better and Stop Snoring With Sleep Apnea Appliances
Better sleep is possible with the help of Dr. Anderson and our whole team at The Gentle Art of Dentistry! Dr. Anderson has over 30 years of experience treating dental patients and is committed to helping you sleep better with dental appliances.
Bad sleep can be a result of sleep apnea, which can be treated by a trained dentist like Dr. Anderson. Our team can do a sleep apnea screening, and fit you with dental devices that can help improve your sleep.
What Is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder where your breathing stops and restarts throughout the night. Sleep apnea is common, affecting about 25% of American men and almost 10% of women. While more common in older individuals, people of all ages can be diagnosed with sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea occurs when the muscles in your throat relax excessively, narrowing your airway while you sleep. This makes it harder to breathe which can shock you awake. When this cycle repeats itself multiple times a night, it is nearly impossible to enter a deep, restful sleep.
Sleep Apnea Symptoms
Many people sleep poorly, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they have sleep apnea. You should talk to your doctor and your dentist about sleep apnea if you are experiencing poor sleep in addition to the following symptoms:
- Waking up with a dry mouth.
- Morning headache.
- Irritability.
- Extreme sleepiness during the day.
- Loud snoring.
Getting help for your sleep apnea can improve your sleep and, by extension, your quality of life. Don’t wait to get the help you need.
Sleep Apnea Risk Factors
You can be diagnosed with sleep apnea regardless of gender or age, but there are factors that increase your likelihood of sleep apnea. These factors include:
- Obesity or excess weight in the throat area.
- Nighttime alcohol consumption.
- Smoking.
- Large tonsils.
- Hypothyroidism.
- Small lower jaw.
You can reduce some of these risks on your own by having a proper diet and exercise and avoiding alcohol and smoking, especially right before bed. For the rest of the problems, however, we can step in to help with a sleep apnea oral appliance!
How Can My Dentist Help With Sleep Apnea?
Living with sleep apnea is quite literally exhausting. But a dentist who practices dental sleep medicine, like Dr. Anderson, can help. Because most cases of sleep apnea are caused by weak muscles in the throat, dentists can fit you with a sleep apnea appliance to keep your airway open and help you sleep through the night.
Sleep Apnea Appliance Options
Sleep apnea appliances are used to support the weak muscles in your throat, and prevent them from collapsing. They are custom fitted to each individual patient, and there are multiple types each designed to meet a different need.
Our team at The Gentle Art of Dentistry can help you get the right sleep apnea appliance. With a simple examination of your mouth and threat, as well as identifying your risk factors, Dr. Anderson can find the right treatment and appliance for you.
Sleep Apnea Mouth Guard
Sleep apnea mouth guard appliances reposition your tongue and jaw in order to keep your airways open throughout the night. They are worn just like a retainer, so they are a simple and comfortable solution to keep you breathing steadily throughout the night.
To mitigate any potential discomfort, every device is custom fitted to each individual patient. After adjusting to the feel of the mouth guard and getting a few nights of great sleep, you should start seeing a noticeable improvement in your overall health as well!
CPAP Device
CPAP stands for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure and is a machine that can help in more severe cases of sleep apnea. The CPAP machine works by pumping oxygen into your lungs all night through a small mask you’ll wear over your nose and/or mouth (depending on your model of CPAP).
With this continuous flow of oxygen, the CPAP ensures that your lungs are getting all the air they need through the night, so your brain won’t wake up to restart your breathing. These machines can be louder and more uncomfortable than the mouth guard, but many people find them to be very effective in treating their sleep apnea.
Call Today to Ask About Sleep Apnea Appliances
If you find yourself exhausted when you wake up every morning, you may be suffering from sleep apnea. Instead of suffering, get relief from Dr. Anderson and our whole team at The Gentle Art of Dentistry.
Our highly trained and compassionate staff is ready to answer any questions you may have about sleep apnea appliances, or any other aspect of oral health.
Call us today to schedule a consultation! We serve patients from throughout the greater Houston area —including Tomball, Cypress, and Spring, TX.
