The National Sleep Foundation estimates that approximately 40 million Americans suffer from some degree of sleep apnea. Two of the more common symptoms include frequent snoring and breathing interruption while sleeping.
Beyond contributing to a poor night’s sleep and other quality of life complications, untreated sleep apnea can lead to other significant problems. The breathing interruption can gradually tax your heart muscle and components of the respiratory system. This can significantly increase blood pressure, as well as your chances of suffering heart disease, and stroke risk. Having a physician diagnose the severity of your sleep apnea is important for determining the best method for symptom relief. If you suffer from severe sleep apnea, you might need to sleep with a positive air pressure device. If you have been diagnosed with mild to moderate sleep apnea, you might find significant symptom relief from a snore guard prescribed by the orthodontists at Uinta Orthodontics. There are several different designs our team might recommend, depending on the specifics of your mouth.
A tongue stabilizing device can be helpful for people with dentures as it doesn’t attach to the teeth in any way. It helps to hold your tongue and soft palate in position to mitigate snoring and improve air flow.
Mandibular advanced devices can come in a variety of different designs. Most of these snore guards attach to the teeth and hinge together in some fashion. Each is designed to hold your mouth and soft palate in the ideal position to allow easy passage of air, thus reducing snoring problems.
Thermoplastic snore guards, which are sometimes referred to as boil and bite, can offer a custom fit. The material softens when heated in simmering water. Once it becomes soft and pliable, you bite down on it firmly. The thermoplastic material will conform to the unique shape of your teeth and bite pattern.
If you live in the Evanston, Wyoming area and you’re suffering with mild to moderate sleep apnea, you should call (307) 789-8742 to explore your snore guard options at Dr. John R. Schouten’s orthodontic office.
