If your significant other tells you that you snore frequently, or if you often wake up with dry mouth and experience daytime exhaustion, then you may benefit from a custom-made sleep guard. In today’s blog, your Overland Park, KS, dentist will explain how we treat issues like snoring and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) with a custom-made sleep guard.
The Factors Behind Snoring
We snore when our airways are partially obstructed when we breathe at night. As air is forced through these tissues, they vibrate and create a loud sound. This also explains the link between snoring, and a disorder known as sleep apnea. With sleep apnea, the airways are now completely blocked with soft tissues in the throat and mouth. You go from snoring to breathing cessation. While you may not remember that you stopped breathing, even though the brain wakes you to resume breathing once more, this can happen several times a night. These interruptions to your sleep cycle could mean daytime exhaustion, dry mouth, irritability, headaches, and trouble staying focused on work during the day.
Treatment with Lifestyle Changes
Sometimes, a few simple changes can help. For example, you can rest on your side instead of your back to help prevent the collapse of soft tissue. Try to avoid alcohol before bed, and keep your bedroom dark and cool. Avoid smartphone screens right before bed, as the brain interprets the blue light they emit as sunlight. Try to maintain a regular sleep schedule too, which means going to bed and waking up at the same times each day. These factors could prove to be very helpful to your ability to fall asleep, and stay that way until morning!
Creating a Sleep Guard
We may also recommend treatment with a sleep guard. The device is similar in appearance to a mouthguard, and is worn as you sleep. We create them based on detailed impressions and images we take of your smile. This ensures a comfortable fit and treatment with precision and accuracy. The guard moves the jaw forward to help prevent the collapse of soft tissues, so you breathe without interruption. If you have any questions about addressing snoring or sleep apnea, then please contact our team today. Remember, treatment is crucial as poor sleep is linked to serious strain on both your immune system and your cardiovascular system too! Don’t let your quality of life suffer as a result of poor rest, talk to our team about solutions.
Do You Have Trouble Sleeping?
Our team wants to help you enjoy a good night’s rest with custom treatment options. To learn more about why you snore, then schedule your consultation by calling Family First Dental in Overland Park, KS, today at 913-381-2600.