Quality sleep is vital for physical and mental health. If your partner’s snoring is causing both of you to lose sleep at night, it might be time to turn to a professional. Although everyone snores occasionally, if the problem is ongoing, it can be a sign of obstructive sleep apnea, which can cause your partner to stop breathing frequently. You can give your loved one the gift of snore-less sleep with oral appliance therapy.
Snoring and Sleep Apnea
Snoring occurs from vibrations as air is passed over narrowed airways, which is why it’s common when battling a case of the sniffles. However, it can also be a sign of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
OSA is a breathing disorder that causes frequent disruptions in breathing while sleeping. The soft tissues in the back of the mouth or tongue can relax and block the airway, which is why snoring is a common sign. Each pause in breathing disrupts your partner’s sleep cycle and depletes their body of oxygen.
Sleep apnea can cause many symptoms, which may seem unrelated to snoring, including:
- Waking choking or gasping
- Morning headaches
- Daily fatigue
- Mood changes
- Depression and anxiety
- Poor concentration and memory loss
- Sleep deprivation
With no treatment, poor sleep and regular lack of oxygen can have serious consequences for their physical and mental health. They can have an increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and other issues that can shorten their lifespan.
You don’t have to lose sleep worrying about your partner’s health. You can support their wellness through a good night’s sleep with oral appliance therapy.
Treating Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Your partner will need to visit a healthcare professional for sleep testing to confirm a diagnosis. Obstructive sleep apnea can be treated with a CPAP, which is a machine that delivers air pressure through a mask worn over the mouth or nose. Although it’s effective, it can be bothersome and loud.
An oral appliance is a patient-preferred option for sleep apnea. A custom-fit device is created to position their tongue and jaw in a more comfortable resting position to keep the airway open. This will prevent breathing disruptions to safeguard your loved one’s health and wellness. They will get the quality of sleep they need to feel their best. It will also stop their chronic snoring, so you don’t have to sleep on the couch.
An oral appliance is a gift that will keep on giving, so you and your partner can look forward to peaceful nights.
About Dr. Luke Lumpkin
Dr. Lumpkin earned his dental degree from the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry and has regularly continued his education in advanced services, like sleep dentistry. He is a proud member of many professional organizations, including the American Academy of Sleep Dentistry. Dr. Lumpkin can treat snoring and OSA with an oral appliance. Request an appointment through our website or call (918) 205-7083.