Does your partner complain about you snoring or holding your breath when you sleep? Do you wake up in the morning but still feel tired? If so, you could be suffering from sleep apnea, a serious sleep disorder that blocks your airway and makes it nearly impossible to achieve restful sleep. Are there any effective sleep apnea treatment options to help?
What Is Sleep Apnea?
When you sleep, your throat, jaw, and mouth relax. For most people, breathing normally while sleeping isn’t a concern. However, if you have sleep apnea, your muscles relax too much and block your airway.
When this happens, you can’t breathe normally, which leads to oxygen loss. Some sleep apnea sufferers wake up hundreds of times each night and don’t get any restful sleep.
Why Treat Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea can cause the following health issues, so it’s essential to seek treatment if you suspect you suffer from it:
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Acid reflux
- Irregular heartbeat
- High blood pressure
Sleep Apnea Treatment Options
Because untreated sleep apnea can have profound health implications and rob you of much-needed sleep, there are treatment options available, including the following:
CPAP machine– Your doctor may prescribe a CPAP machine to help open your airway. You wear a mask at night to facilitate this treatment. The problem is that many people don’t use their CPAP machine as prescribed because it is bulky, loud, and uncomfortable.
Oral appliance therapy – Our dental office may be able to treat your sleep apnea with oral appliance therapy (OAT). We can customize a mouthguard to move your jaw forward while you’re sleeping. This keeps your airway open, reducing your symptoms and allowing you to breathe freely.
This conservative approach to sleep apnea treatment may be an option for you. Contact our dental office for more information.
Looking for Sleep Apnea Treatment in Watkinsville, GA?
We would love to hear from you if you want to explore your sleep apnea treatment options! At Athens Oconee Dentistry, we understand the importance of quality sleep, so contact a dental team member today! You can reach us at (706) 549-2440 to schedule an appointment.
