If you have sleep apnea, then you could suffer from symptoms like chronic snoring and even daytime exhaustion. But did you know this could also impact your memory, immune system, and even your overall heart health? In today’s blog, Jeffrey Leibowitz, DDS, talks about helping patients with sleep apnea in Astoria, NY.
Sleep Apnea and Poor Health
If you have sleep apnea, then this means that while you sleep soft tissues in the back of your mouth and in your throat can become too relaxed and then collapse. This collapse cuts off airflow, sealing air passages. You stop breathing for a few seconds until the brain registers the drop in oxygen, and interrupts your REM sleep to tell your body to breathe again. This can happen hundreds of times a night and leave you exhausted. But this also causes issues with short-term memory and can strain your immune system so you become sick more frequently. The same disorder could also stress your heart health, leaving you vulnerable to high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and heart attack. But we can help with a CPAP alternative in the form of a custom oral appliance!
Help with a Custom Oral Appliance
Our team will examine you and ask about your sleep habits and symptoms. If you have sleep apnea, then we can take digital impressions of your bite, which we use to design and craft an oral appliance, one that looks and fits like a mouthguard. This is then worn while you sleep, fitting like a mouthguard. Once in place, the custom device comfortably repositions your jaw and tongue to help prevent the collapse of airways, so you can breathe without interruption and sleep throughout the night. You wake up feeling refreshed, and this can stop chronic snoring too!
Improving How You Sleep
Lang with a custom oral appliance from our team, you could take other actions to help rest. For example, maintain a regular sleep schedule by going to bed and waking up at the same time daily, as this helps you fall asleep faster. Be sure you avoid excessive alcohol, large meals, exercise, or caffeine in the two hours before bed. Try to avoid screen use in the hour before bed. Finally, be sure you rest on your side instead of your back.
If you have any questions about how we diagnose and treat sleep apnea, or about help with our custom oral appliances, then contact our team today to get started.
Schedule Your Appointment for a Custom Appliance
We want to make sure you can sleep well, and without the need for a CPAP machine. To schedule your next appointment with our office, contact Jeffrey Leibowitz, DDS in Astoria, NY by calling 718-728-8320 today.
