There are a lot of jokes about snoring but if your spouse is the one snoring, it is not always funny. If you are the one snoring, you may be suffering more than you think. Do you always feel tired? Even if you think you get plenty of sleep? Do you wake up with a dry mouth or morning headaches? You may have sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea causes interrupted breathing over and over at night, many times every hour. The interruption is caused by airway obstruction. This obstruction can last for seconds or even minutes! The sleep interruptions prevent REM (rapid eye movement) sleep from occurring which is the deepest phase of the sleep cycle. Without REM sleep, the body cannot fully rest.
You are not probably aware that your dentist can help with sleep apnea. Tucson Premier Smiles in Tucson, Arizona, offers custom-made sleep appliances that help with sleep apnea and snoring.
Sleep apnea can be managed with oral appliance therapy. An oral appliance is a custom-made device that is worn in the mouth when sleeping. It closely resembles an orthodontic retainer or sports guard. By keeping the jaw in a forward position, the airway is kept open so breathing is not obstructed. Without these obstructions, better rest is achieved with full sleep cycles.
