You owe it to yourself to find out more about obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), the most common type of sleep apnea. OSA occurs when your air passages become temporarily blocked while you’re sleeping.

Your tongue and other soft tissues in the back of your throat naturally relax when you’re asleep. However, if they relax or sag too much, they can block your airway and prevent you from breathing for a few seconds.

Eventually, your brain will wake you up long enough to take in more oxygen. After a few normal breaths, you drift off to sleep once more – until the next OSA cycle. For severe sleep apnea sufferers, this cycle can repeat itself dozens of times per hour, usually without the person even being aware of it.

Your sleep apnea appliance will fit comfortably in your mouth, gently moving your lower jaw forward just enough to help keep your airway open. The result is better breathing without the constant interruptions in your sleep.

Since snoring is caused by air passing over those soft tissues blocking your airway, your snoring will be lessened as well. It’s a win-win for both you and your bed partner.

If you suspect you need help with sleep apnea in Vancouver or would like to schedule your next dental checkup, call Oasis Dental today at 360-695-3369 for an appointment. You can also schedule online.