Returning home to a comfortable bed and quiet room helps you get enough sleep and rest in readiness for the following day. However, it is not the same if you or your partner has sleep apnea because sleeping peacefully at night is usually a problem. In most cases, if your partner has sleep apnea, it will take time before you fall asleep because the room is usually noisy because they snore very loudly. Similarly, they tend to breathe using their mouth, and the snoring can also awaken you in the middle of the night, making your night longer than it seems, especially if you are not used to sleeping with snoring people. And if you are the one with sleep apnea, sleeping also becomes a problem because you cannot efficiently breathe while asleep. But of importance to note is that oral appliances provide a solution for people with sleep apnea. Therefore, if you have sleep apnea and seek treatment, Austin oral appliance therapy provides the help you need. Let’s find out more about how oral appliance therapy treats sleep apnea below.
What is obstructive sleep apnea?
It is a serious sleep concern that causes some disruption in your breathing while asleep. Usually, there are different types of sleep apnea, but the most dangerous and common is obstructive sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea makes your throat muscles relax when you are sleeping, thus completely or partially blocking airflow into the lungs. As a result, your chest and diaphragm muscles strain hard to open the blocked airway resulting in jerking motions or gasping. These interrupted breathing patterns can recur at least thirty times each hour for about ten seconds when you are sleeping.
What is oral appliance therapy?
It is a treatment option available for sleep apnea. It typically involves the use of portable and small tubeless devices or machines. Generally, oral appliance therapy is the best for patients with sleep apnea compared to continuous positive airway pressure treatments. Continuous positive airway pressure therapy requires you always to put on a mask covering your nose, mouth, or both. The mask is unique in that it is connected to a machine that helps increase the air pressure in your throat, thus opening the airway.
Are you a good candidate for oral appliance therapy?
After you have been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea, your care providers educate you on the various treatment options available before deciding which suits your lifestyle. The caregivers ensure you choose the best treatment that will work for you. Oral appliance therapy is the best in controlling sleep apnea because it helps you breathe efficiently, thus improving your quality of life and sleep. Typically, you qualify for oral appliance therapy if diagnosed with mild or moderate obstructive sleep apnea. And if you are diagnosed with severe obstructive sleep apnea, your care provider may recommend combining oral appliance therapy and other sleep apnea treatments available to optimize the results.
Sleep apnea is a serious condition because it deprives you of enough sleep, thus reducing your quality of life. And if you or your partner has sleep apnea and seek treatment, you can start by calling Sleep Cycle Center today and learn more about oral appliance therapy.
