Does your sleep apnea leave you feeling exhausted and irritable? A dental sleep appliance provided by your Pueblo, CO, dentist, Dr. Elmer Villalon, can help you get the sleep you desperately need.
Sleep apnea disrupts your sleep and may affect your health
Sleep apnea occurs when your airway becomes blocked while you sleep. The problem can happen if your tongue falls against your throat, or the walls of your throat collapse when you sleep.
These blockages prevent oxygen from reaching your brain. Although breathing pauses typically only last a few seconds, you may stop breathing hundreds of times during the night. The resulting oxygen deprivation can soon begin to affect your life and health in several ways. Sleep apnea may:
- Increase Your Risk of Health Problems: Sleep apnea can be a contributing factor in high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, stroke, diabetes, depression and other conditions.
- Disturb the Sleep of Your Family or Partner: People who have sleep apnea often snore, sometimes very loudly.
- Decrease Your Motivation: It's hard to feel motivated and engaged at work or school if you're constantly tired. Your sleepiness can also be downright dangerous if you operate complicated machinery or drive while you're tired.
- Affect Your Mood: Lack of sleep may cause you to become irritable and short-tempered.
A Dental Sleep Appliance Offers an Effective Way to Treat Sleep Apnea
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines are often used to treat sleep apnea. The machines send a constant stream of air into your throat through a mask. Although CPAP machines can stop sleep apnea, some people just can't adjust to the noise or the mask.
Dental sleep appliances offer a low-tech, yet effective, treatment option. The device is custom-made for your mouth during a visit to the Pueblo dental office. The appliances resemble nightguards and are worn over your teeth while you sleep. Sleep appliances are designed to hold your jaw forward, preventing your tongue from falling back against your airway.
After wearing your sleep appliance, you'll wake up rested and ready to face the day.
Would you like to improve the quality of your sleep with a dental sleep appliance? Call your dentist in Pueblo, CO, Dr. Villalon, at (719) 542-7844 to schedule your appointment.