How to Adjust to Your New Oral Appliance

Oral appliance therapy is one of the most convenient and effective ways to treat obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). In fact, it has a significantly higher compliance rate than CPAP machines, which are the traditional way to address OSA. Of course, it must still be acknowledged that it can be a bit challenging to adjust to your new oral appliance. This blog post discusses some common issues that patients encounter and how you may be able to deal with them.

Common Issues with New Oral Appliances

An oral appliance is custom made to fit your unique mouth, but your body will still register it as a foreign object. You might experience:

• Discomfort and tightness. A bit of tightness can actually be a good thing; a snug fit can reduce the risk that your appliance will fall out while you are sleeping. The hard plastic of your appliance might also cause mild discomfort at first.
• Drooling. Any foreign object in your mouth can encourage saliva production.
• Gagging. If you have a strong gag reflex, it might initially be difficult to keep your appliance in your mouth.
• Nighttime removals. You might unconsciously take your appliance out of your mouth during sleep. Some patients even end up throwing their device across the room!

Getting Through the Adjustment Period

Most people are comfortable with their oral appliance after just a few weeks of use. Here are some tips to help you navigate your adjustment period:

• Use it consistently. If you skip nights, it can significantly lengthen your adjustment period. You might even choose to wear your appliance for short periods throughout the day simply so your body can get used to how it feels.
• Breathe through your nose. Consciously inhaling and exhaling through your nose while wearing your appliance might help to calm a strong gag reflex.
• Communicate with your care provider. If you experience persistent or severe discomfort while using your appliance, or you have other concerns, contact the dentist who provided it. They might need to adjust your device. In some cases, it might even become necessary for them to order a different type of device for you.

Oral appliance therapy is effective, convenient, and for many people, very comfortable! Be patient as you are adjusting to your new device, and hopefully, it will soon be an easy part of your nightly routine.

About the Practice

At Go to Sleep Center for CPAP Alternatives, we specialize in providing custom oral appliances for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea. We offer multiple types of devices to fit the needs of various patients. If you are curious about this treatment or would like tips on how to make it successful, contact our Glendale office at 623-600-4215.