Did you know that about 90% of people with sleep apnea haven’t been diagnosed? Sadly, if you have sleep apnea, one of the only ways to officially diagnose it is to have a sleep study. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to help you deal with sleep apnea—and our dentist, Dr. Stan Scalf, may help.
You see, sleep apnea happens when your airway gets obstructed while you’re sleeping. Often, either your tongue or muscles from the roof of your mouth block your airway. When this happens, your body will wake you up. Ultimately, you may wake up hundreds of times every night. As you can probably guess, this can lead to difficulty sleeping and trouble focusing during the day. Â
Still, while sleep apnea is a serious problem, there are a number of things you can do to alleviate the problem. For example, you could consider using a CPAP machine. However, Dr. Stan Scalf, may offer you a different solution. In fact, our team will probably recommend a custom oral appliance. Fortunately, these appliances offer a number of advantages. For example, they are easier to travel with, easier to put on, and easier to clean.
Often, these appliances are custom mouth guards. While these mouthguards are designed to fit comfortably, they will also hold your mouth in a position that keeps your airway open while you sleep. In other words, this mouthguard prevents the obstructions that tend to wake you up and causes your snoring.
Do you worry that you have sleep apnea? Would you like to learn more about how our team can help you recognize this issue? Do you have more questions about a custom mouthguard? If so, please don’t hesitate to contact Stan Scalf DMD at 502-863-9340 to set up an appointment with Dr. Stan Scalf. We look forward to hearing from you soon!