When was the last time you woke up feeling truly rested? Even when you get a solid eight hours of sleep, do you wake up feeling groggy, as if you just went to bed. If it feels like ages since you were well rested, it could be due to a sleeping disorder like Obstructive Sleep Apnea. OSA is a chronic condition that impacts millions of Americans. It can also impact their significant others or other loved ones sleeping nearby, since one of the most common symptoms of OSA is loud snoring. Fortunately, a dentist might be able to help you – or your loved one – address your OSA quickly and with minimally invasive treatment. And that could mean waking feeling rested, once again.
What Is OSA?
OSA is caused when one’s airway is temporarily blocked during sleep by one’s soft tissues, which can shift during the night. This can occur dozens or even hundreds of times in a single night, leaving the body gasping for oxygen, creating the loud noises of snoring as a result, and increasing one’s risk of a number of health threats, as well, such as high blood pressure, higher risk of stroke, and even depression.
How Can a Dentist Help?
To help address OSA many doctors recommend continuous Positive Airway Pressure machines, which help to pump oxygen into one’s body through the use of a machine and a mask. Unfortunately, many patients find the CPAP machines cumbersome and noisy. Dentists can provide a less invasive alternative, though, in the form of customized sleep appliances.
Sleep appliances work by keeping soft tissues from shifting as one sleeps, allowing for more continuous airflow without the need for a machine. To see if a sleep appliance could work for you, schedule a consultation with your dentist.
Sleep Better Soon with OSA Treatment
If you or someone you love might be suffering with OSA, don’t delay a dental visit. To schedule a consultation, call Houston Sleep Solutions in Spring, TX, at (281) 320-2000, or in Pearland, TX, at (832) 564-3508.