Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a serious disorder that not only leaves sufferers exhausted, but also complicates oral health. Snoring is often a warning sign. To prevent these issues from causing poor rest and straining your immune system and heart health, your Syosset, NY, dentist could recommend a sleep apnea appliance.
Facts About Sleep Apnea
OSA could be caused by a number of factors, such as neck circumference, sinus and allergy issues, a deviated septum, obesity, excessive alcohol consumption, or complications with the growth and development of certain oral structures. The disorder means that as you sleep, soft tissues in the thirst and the rear of your mouth become too relaxed. They then collapse and block airflow, so you stop breathing for a brief period until the rain wakes you. This interrupts your sleep cycle, even if you have no memory of it, and could happen hundreds of times a night.
Warning signs include daytime drowsiness, dry mouth, headaches, moodiness, chronic snoring, waking in the night choking to gasping for air, and trouble staying focused. Without treatment, this could lead to worsening symptoms, strained immune systems and more frequent illness as a result, and even poor heart health! The strain on your cardiovascular system alone could lead to heart disease, high blood pressure, and even stroke and heart attack.
Creating an Oral Appliance
Our team will take a close look at your smile and perform a detailed diagnosis. If we find you suffer from OSA, we will take detailed immersions of your smile with digital scanning systems. These images and measurements will allow our team to design and craft the device in a dental lab setting. The finished product will look and fit like a traditional mouthguard, but will adjust the position of the jaw to prevent the collapse of soft tissues so you can breathe without interruption and enjoy a better quality of life!
Other Tips for Good Rest
To help safeguard yourself from sleep apnea, try to rest on your side instead of your back, and keep your bedroom dark, cool, and if possible, screen-free. Maintain a good sleep schedule, and avoid vigorous exercise, large meals, caffeine, or excessive alcohol in the two hours before bed. If you have any questions about how we treat issues like sleep apnea, then contact our team today to learn more. We would love to help you feel more rested and alert in 2022.
Syosset Dental Treats Snoring and Sleep Apnea
Our team wants to help you enjoy a good quality of life with a custom oral appliance. If you have questions about addressing a sleep disorder like OSA, then contact our Syosset, NY dental office today at 516-433-2211.