For the most part, people are usually aware of staying awake all night, so the exhaustion the next day is not typically a mystery. Sometimes, however, you can feel as though you’ve been deprived of sleep even though, to the best of your knowledge, you enjoyed a full night’s rest the night before. Obstructive sleep apnea describes a sleep disorder that deprives you of the rest your mind and body need without fully rousing you from sleep. Your Astoria general dentist, Dr. Leibowitz, has extensive experience helping patients sleep better by addressing the underlying issues behind obstructive sleep apnea. Today, he explains how the disorder robs you of rest, and how a small, custom-designed dental appliance can help you enjoy the benefits of sleep once again.
What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
One of the telltale signs of obstructive sleep apnea is excessive, almost exaggerated snoring. When you sleep, the tissues in your mouth and throat relax, compressing together and restricting your airway. Snoring is the sound of air trying to squeeze past these tightly compacted tissues, and it grows louder as your airway becomes smaller. In some cases, your oral tissues can compress together tightly enough to completely close your airway, forcing you to stop breathing. After ten seconds or more, your body is forced awake with a gasp as it starts breathing again, but the interruption is typically not enough to consciously disturb you. These cycles can occur hundreds of times a night, making it impossible for your mind and body to enter the deep sleep, or REM sleep, that they need to rejuvenate.
Breathe and Sleep Easier
To help prevent the full collapse of your mouth and throat tissues while you sleep, Dr. Leibowitz may recommend a custom-fitted dental appliance designed to keep your lower jaw in a forward position, keeping your airway open while you sleep.
Treating Sleep Apnea with Your Astoria General Dentist
To learn more about treating obstructive sleep apnea, call our Astoria general dentist’s office to schedule a dental consultation with Dr. Leibowitz. You can contact us by calling (718) 728-8320. Located in the 11106 area, we proudly serve patients from Astoria, Queens, Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the surrounding communities.
