Are Oral Appliances Good For Sleep Apnea?
Many sleep disorders can affect you, but one of the potentially serious ones is sleep apnea. It involves stopping breathing while sleeping. This condition may occur because of various reasons.
The best part is that Sleep Apnoea can be controlled by different things, such as oral appliances. So if you want to know whether these devices are good for sleep apnea, you’re in the right place.
Below is all the information you require.
What Is An Oral Appliance?
An oral appliance is a device that will fit your mouth like a guard or retainer. It will support your jaw and different muscles while you sleep. This will prevent obstruction of airways while sleeping.
Because of the open airway, the risk of breathing stoppage reduces significantly. That is why many doctors may suggest getting an oral appliance for sleeping apnea.
Benefits Of An Oral Appliance
Here are the top benefits of an oral appliance that will help you understand why it is good for sleep apnea:
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Allows Breathing At Night
An oral appliance makes breathing at night easier by keeping your airways open. The device will allow you to bring your jaw forward while sleeping. It also helps you keep your tongue forward.
These things ensure you don’t stop breathing when sleeping. So the disorder can be managed better to reduce the risk of fatality.
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It Helps You Avoid Surgery
Sometimes sleep apnea may require you to get surgery to avoid the cause of the condition. Of course, you may not want to get this procedure because of different reasons. Surgeries also pose a higher risk and require more money.
The best part is that an oral appliance will allow you to address the issue without getting surgery. So you can save money and enjoy a better quality of life due to the device.
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Does Not Make Exhaling Difficult
Another treatment for sleep apnea is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy. It ensures you receive continuous pressure at night to prevent you from stopping breathing. However, this therapy can make exhaling more difficult.
Luckily, you will not face such an issue when using an oral appliance. This is because the device does not affect the air pressure of your body. Besides that, a CPAP mask is also more discomforting than an oral appliance.
So an oral appliance is preferable over other treatments for sleep apnea because it is more comfortable and effective. It can help you easily tackle mild to moderate sleep apnea without extensive surgery.
Final Words
This is everything you need to know about the safety of oral appliances for sleep apnea. The device is helpful for moderate disorders but not preferred for serious issues. This is because severe sleep apnea is mainly caused by an underlying problem requiring surgery.
You can understand whether you should get an oral appliance by consulting with your doctor. The practitioner will learn about the severity of your disorder to guide you towards the best treatment option.
