Adjusting to Your Appliance for Sleep Apnea in Weatherford

After a month of constantly feeling drowsy (and hearing complaints of loud snoring from your partner), you’ve found out that you have sleep apnea in Weatherford. You received an oral appliance that’s supposed to help keep your airways open at night, but so far it seems like it’s causing a lot of problems; it’s so tight on your teeth that’s you’re afraid they’re going to move and you keep waking up to a pillow soaked by drool.

It can take time for your body to get used to a new oral appliance, but doing so can mean the difference between a good night’s rest and continuing to suffer from a severe sleep disorder. Here’s what you may experience while wearing your oral appliance – and how you can make the transition easier for yourself.

Common Complaints for New Oral Appliances

At first, having an oral appliance in your mouth every night might feel strange, and your body will react in various ways. New patients commonly experience:

• Discomfort and Tightness: The hard plastic will feel unnatural in your mouth at first. You might also experience some tightness – although this is good because it means the appliance won’t fall out while you sleep!
• Drooling: Your mouth will initially mistake your appliance for food, producing more saliva than usual as a result.
• Gagging: Some patients have more trouble placing their appliance than others due to a stronger gag reflex.
• Nighttime Removals: In some cases, your body might unconsciously remove your appliance at night, even throwing it across the room.

How to Get Used to Your Oral Appliance

The key to overcoming all of the above issues is time. You simply need to make sure you wear your appliance every night. As the brain adjusts to the sensations, it’ll be able to block out feelings of discomfort. Saliva production will stop increasing, and nighttime removals should cease. Overall, the adjustment period should take about 2 to 3 weeks.

Your gag reflex might take more work to overcome, but you can make the process easier by practicing wearing the appliance for short periods during the day. Breathe through your nose and let your body relax. With enough practice, you should be able to comfortably keep your appliance in your mouth at night when you really need it.

What If I Don’t Adjust?

If you’re still having trouble after 3 weeks, it could be due to a problem with the design of your oral appliance in Weatherford. Your sleep dentist can make necessary adjustments, or they might give you a new appliance altogether.

Be mindful of your progress, and feel free to ask for help if you’re having trouble. Oral appliances may be uncomfortable at first, but the effects of sleep apnea are far worse; don’t let your body suffer from a lack of sleep when there’s a solution on hand!

About the Author

Dr. Deborah A. Romack makes a point of staying up to date with current advances in sleep dentistry, snoring, and obstructive sleep apnea. If you suffer from snoring or continuously disrupted breathing during the night, Dr. Romack can give you an oral appliance that’ll let you have a good night’s sleep again. To schedule an appointment at her practice, Weatherford Dental Sleep Medicine, visit her website or call (817) 594-3806.