Burke, Fairfax and Fairfax Station, VA
Living with untreated sleep apnea is exhausting and can affect your mental stamina and energy levels. For some sufferers, they avoid treatment because they don’t want to rely on a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine because it’s noisy and keeping it clean is a chore. But our airway dentist in Fairfax, Pamela Marzban, DDS, would like to share information about an alternative to the CPAP machine. So today on the blog, learn more about alternative therapy as a means to help manage sleep apnea, breathe better while sleeping, and feel more energized every day.
Lifestyle Changes:
For some individuals with sleep apnea, making certain lifestyle changes can help lessen symptoms. For instance, losing weight can help reduce the fat around the neck, which lessens snoring and reduces apneic events while sleeping.
Dr. Marzban also recommends reducing or avoiding alcohol intake and tobacco usage. While you might think that alcohol helps you get a good night’s sleep, it has the opposite effect. Alcohol relaxes the muscles, including throat muscles, which could lead to a collapsed airway that blocks air and leads to apneic events or pauses in breathing. Additionally, tobacco usage restricts blood flow, which isn’t healthy for your body, especially when sleep apnea is already reducing blood oxygenation levels.
Another helpful change to make if you’re suffering from obstructive sleep apnea is to adjust your sleeping position. Sleeping on your back is more likely to result in a collapsed or blocked airway that causes loud snoring. Therefore, our Fairfax dentist that offers sleep apnea screenings, Dr. Marzban, recommends sleeping on your side to help reduce snoring and apneic events.
While minor lifestyle adjustments may help you manage your condition, it isn’t a cure for the problem. You may still require additional treatments to effectively manage your sleep apnea.
Oral Appliances:
Oral appliances are an alternative therapy for sleep apnea. They are designed from custom impressions of your mouth, which ensure a comfortable yet secure fit. Some oral appliances are designed to be adjustable so that the dentist can make minor adjustments throughout your treatment. When worn, the appliance works by adjusting the lower jaw and encouraging the tongue to rest in proper positioning. Together, this results in an open airway in which airflows freely and adequately. Oral appliance therapy has been studied and proven to be as effective as a CPAP machine in terms of providing relief from mild to moderate sleep apnea cases.
Sleep Apnea Dentist in Burke, Fairfax, and Fairfax Station, VA
Ignoring sleep apnea can be detrimental to your health. But the good news is that you don’t have to rely upon a CPAP machine to give you the relief that you deserve. And you’ll be satisfied knowing that oral appliance therapy won’t impact your partner’s sleep! There are no wires, no sound, and best of all, it’s easy to clean. If you’re interested in learning more about oral appliance therapy for sleep apnea, contact Pamela Marzban, DDS, today by calling (703) 323-8200 to schedule a consultation today.
