If you've been diagnosed with sleep apnea, your doctor has probably impressed upon you the importance of treatment. When left untreated, sleep apnea can be dangerous. When you stop breathing at night, you run the risk of stroke, heart arrhythmia, and heart attacks. If you have obstructive sleep apnea, which means you stop breathing because your airway becomes closed off by your own tissues, your dentist may be able to help. Dentists can provide oral appliance therapy, which is effective at treating mild to moderate sleep apnea. Here are three reasons you may want to choose this treatment:

1. It is comfortable.

CPAP machines are a common treatment for sleep apnea. These machines blow a steady stream of air into your nostrils, providing pressure to keep your throat from collapsing while you sleep. Unfortunately, many people find CPAP machines uncomfortable. The machines themselves are cumbersome, and some people find it difficult to fall asleep while wearing the mask that fits over their nose and mouth. By contrast, a mouthguard created to prevent sleep apnea is much more comfortable. It fits snugly into your mouth, and there are no external machines or tubes to worry about. 

2. It will not disturb your sleeping partner.

CPAP machines can be noisy. They work by drawing in air and blowing it through the mask, so they can create a sound similar to a fan or air conditioner. Some people find it difficult to sleep next to someone wearing a CPAP machine. Sleep apnea mouthguards are completely silent, and they won't disturb your sleeping partner at all.

3. It can help you get a better night's rest.

If your oral appliance therapy is successful, you will find yourself sleeping more easily at night. many people with sleep apnea find that they suffer from poor quality sleep. Patients often wake several times in the night due to shortness of breath, even if they aren't aware of it. When you get a custom mouthguard, your airways will be better supported. You will be able to breathe easier, which means you will be able to sleep through the night.

When you're ready to try oral appliance therapy, visit a dentist who has experience treating patients with sleep apnea. They will take a mold of your teeth and create a custom mouthguard for you. This mouthguard will gently realign your tongue and jaw forward in order to widen your airway.