You are awoken by a familiar jabbing in your ribs. Your partner is doing their part in the normal “dance” that you both do whenever you’re in bed. The steps are that you fall asleep, start to snore, and they jab you awake; 1-2-3, 1-2-3…Neither of you can go on like this. You’re waking up with headaches and always feel tired at work, so something needs to change. You might need sleep apnea treatment in Ocala, FL.
How Do I Know If I Have Sleep Apnea?
Millions of Americans snore, but this could be the sign of a more serious condition called sleep apnea. The soft tissue in your mouth and throat naturally relax when you lay down to go to sleep. Air vibrates as it passes by, which can create the snoring sound we’re all familiar with. For some people, this airflow can get cut-off for 10-20 seconds at a time, and this is sleep apnea. Sometimes it can wake a patient, other times they can just sleep right through it. Despite either, most people with sleep apnea still wake up extremely exhausted even if they got an “adequate” amount of sleep. The problems go way beyond snoring. Other signs you might have sleep apnea are:
- Chronic morning headaches
- Frequent dry mouth upon waking
- Waking up feeling out of breath
- High Blood Pressure
Suffers of sleep apnea have a higher likelihood of developing cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or having a stroke. This temporary loss of oxygen happens many times over the course of the night, so the body is left in an extremely stressed state.
What Can I Do About It?
The go-to solution for sleep apnea used to be a cumbersome device called a CPAP, or Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Machine. This frequently left patients uncomfortable, so a large percentage would simply stop using it over time. A simpler solution is to use an oral appliance from Weldon General and Cosmetic Dentistry. These help sleep apnea by gently shifting the patient’s jaw forward. This enables the tissues of the mouth and throat to stay open throughout the night. Oral appliances fit seamlessly into the lives of our patients because they can easily take them in and out, as opposed to needing to set up a bulky machine each night before bed. Every oral appliance is specially made of malleable plastic so it conforms to every patient’s individual teeth and mouth. People who regularly use oral appliances can see a dramatic increase in their sleep quality, as well as a considerable reduction in snoring.
We Can Help
Whether you suffer from sleep apnea, or your partner is suffering through your snoring, an oral appliance can help. If you are curious about how an oral device could help enhance your sleep tonight, give us a call today.