The Key to Simple Sleep Apnea Treatment

Been feeling a bit sleepy lately? Of course, there are countless reasons why you could be struggling to get some shut-eye. Stress, anxiety, or something more tangible – like a sleep disorder.

Sleep disorders interfere with your normal sleeping patterns, resulting in less-than-ideal nights. Whether the interference affects your breathing, muscle movement, or brain function, it leads to both frustration and potential additional health problems. You want to regain your sound sleep as quickly as possible to get back to normal life.

Today, Macomb sleep apnea treatment can be as simple as a visit to the dentist.

When an Oral Appliance will Tame Sleep Apnea

There are two types of sleep apnea – central and obstructive. If you have central sleep apnea, your breathing stops and starts during the night due to neurological problems. This type of apnea will need to be resolved with more complex treatment, like a CPAP machine to ensure continuous breathing.

However, obstructive sleep apnea is far more common – as well as far easier to treat. If you’re struggling with OSA, then an oral appliance could provide successful treatment. Wearing one will feel only slightly different from wearing a mouth guard. And, in a way, the appliance is accomplishing the same thing – protecting you from unwanted movement during sleep.

Sleep Apnea Treatment for Weary Patients

If you’re exhausted by ongoing sleep problems, it’s time to figure out the precise cause of your restlessness. For sleep apnea patients, this will require undergoing a sleep study. During this test, you spend the night in a sleep lab, having your vital signs monitored. The resulting feedback will indicate whether your breathing is stopping during the night, and offer clues as to whether the apnea is central or obstructive.

With OSA, the pauses in breathing can be caused by a few different things. They’re usually the result of your tongue or throat tissues closing off your airway (when you are asleep and they are relaxed). By controlling your tongue and jaws during the night, you can keep your breathing steady.

Not sure whether sleep apnea is the problem? There are some distinct symptoms that can identify the issue as a breathing-related one. These include:

• Throat feeling sore or dry each morning
• Snoring (check with your housemates/family members to see if they hear you at night, although you may also wake yourself up)
• Waking up choking or gasping
• Lack of energy and sleepiness throughout the day, when driving, and at work
• Frequent headaches or migraines
• Waking up often during the night
• Increasing or unusual inability to remember short-term events
• Mood swings or depression

Finding a Solution for Your Sleep Disorder

Tending to your sleep disorder isn’t just a matter of getting better sleep. Because sleep apnea interrupts your breathing, long-term effects can include more serious diseases. Without sufficient oxygen getting to your brain and organs each night, you have a heightened risk of heart disease, stroke, and other problems.

Keep your brain oxygenated, and your nights restful, with a simple oral appliance. This type of sleep apnea treatment stabilizes the haw and tongue to prevent your airway from becoming obstructed.

At Hoffman Dental Care, we offer only the best for our patients. We use the ResMed Narval CC for sleep apnea treatment. Its unparalleled construction and materials allow for comfortable sleep, and even unfettered speaking while the appliance is in. The Narval lets you move on with your life, without sleep apnea problems and without complications stemming from treatment. The Narval is also constructed digitally, to craft a final product that feels completely natural.

If you think you might be suffering from sleep apnea, please, contact us. We’ll help you find a solution that you love.