Have you been wondering about your nightly bouts with sleep apnea and whether sleep apnea treatment is sufficient on its own? If so, we are happy to share some helpful information with you. As a matter of fact, the success of your treatment is going to rely in part on your consistency of use – and also on your commitment to making lifestyle choices that support treatment (rather than working against it). Don’t worry – we are happy to explain.

Isn’t Sleep Apnea Treatment Enough?

Choosing to visit us and receive an oral appliance to address your sleep apnea can be extremely beneficial – it can ensure you return to comfortable, solid sleep on a nightly basis. As a result, you will regain your energy and stave off side effects like health problems.

However, sleep apnea treatment is only its most effective when you’re not participating in counterproductive habits. For instance, if you drink alcohol before bed, you relax your muscles (including throat muscles), which may contribute to sleep apnea events. Your appliance can do only so much for keeping your airways open. So, yes. Treatment is enough as long as you are making wise lifestyle decisions.

Choices You Can Make

A variety of missteps or good choices can affect the worthwhileness of your sleep apnea treatment. Fortunately, staying on track is quite simple when you think logically about sleep apnea. Consider the following as excellent examples:

  • You should sleep on your side or your stomach – sleeping on your back allows soft tissue to slide in toward your throat
  • You shouldn’t do anything that might artificially relax your muscles (like drinking alcohol in the evening or taking tranquilizing medicine)
  • You should treat congestion to ensure your airways remain as free of obstruction as possible

Riverside Dental Group and Dental Associate Offices Serves a Community Near You!

Our dentists look forward to caring for you and every member of your family with a comprehensive selection of services. We will maintain and improve your oral health with a wide range of preventive, cosmetic, restorative, implant, and emergency dentistry techniques. We also specialize in endodontics, periodontics, oral surgery, and orthodontics, serving patients from Riverside, Temecula, Moreno Valley, Corona, and all surrounding California communities. To schedule an appointment, contact one of the following locations nearest to you:

Riverside Dental Group at Magnolia in Riverside, CA at (951) 689-5031.

Dental Associates of Moreno Valley in Moreno Valley, CA at (951) 697-6800.

Riverside Dental Group at Woodcrest in Riverside, CA at (951) 776-9001.

Oasis Family Dental in Temecula, CA at (951) 695-2290.

Dental Associates of Riverside in Riverside, CA at  (951) 369-1001.

Dental Associates of Corona in Corona, CA at (951) 273-9580.