Sleep Well with Sleep Apnea Therapy in Odessa

Good night. Sleep tight. Don’t let the bedbugs bite! This cute and innocent childhood rhyme might need one more line for a lot of people—don’t let snoring keep you up at night! Loud snoring is one of the primary signs of sleep apnea, a medical condition that can rob you of restful sleep. And because you’re snoring, your bed partner may not be sleeping well either. Fortunately, reliable treatment for sleep apnea is available from Dr. Cobb, your dentist in Odessa. Read on to learn more about sleep apnea and how easily it can be remedied with an oral appliance worn every night.

What is Sleep Apnea?

As mentioned above, sleep apnea is a medical condition so you’ll be pleased to know that treatment is often covered by insurance. In basic terms, sleep apnea pauses breathing while you are asleep. The most common form is known as obstructive sleep apnea, because your airway becomes obstructed. When you sleep, your tongue and the other soft tissue around your throat relax (just like the rest of your body) and may consequently fall back and block your breathing passageway. When this happens, the air that squeezes through vibrates the loose tissue. As a result, you snore. Proper breathing may restart with a gasp or cough. In any case, these sleep apnea episodes can happen over and over throughout the night. And each time, the brain slightly awakens to restart breathing. The cumulative effect can be hours of lost sleep night after night.

What are Some Signs and Symptoms of Sleep Apnea?

Snoring is just one of the signs of sleep apnea. Other include:

• A dry mouth in the morning
• Headaches
• Frequently needing to use the bathroom during the night
• Daytime drowsiness
• Difficulty concentrating during the day
• Moodiness

What are the Side Effects of Sleep Apnea?

In addition to these signs and symptoms, sleep apnea has been associated with a number of life threatening conditions. First of all, research shows that the reason for a significant number of auto accidents may be rooted in sleep apnea; a driver who has not slept well is a dangerous driver.

In addition, there are a number of bodily illnesses that have been connected to sleep apnea including high blood pressure and heart disease, diabetes and depression. Therefore, treating sleep apnea can be a key to improving your overall health.

How does Dr. Cobb Treat Sleep Apnea?

A CPAP machine used to be the only option for sleep apnea therapy. Now, however, Dr. Cobb can prescribe a comfortably fitting oral appliance that gently moves your lower jaw forward in order to maintain an open airway for free breathing. This has proven very effective for people with mild to moderate sleep apnea.

Contact Our Office Today

We really do want you to sleep tight. So call our office today to learn more about sleep apnea therapy or to schedule a consultation with Dr. Cobb.