How To Get Used To Wearing An Oral Appliance At Night
If you recently received an oral appliance to help treat your sleep apnea or TMD condition, you are on your way to feeling better and improving your life. As you know, dealing with either sleep apnea or TMD can be a difficult journey to navigate and can lead to problems with your overall quality of life. It’s amazing that a small oral appliance can make such a difference, but it does and has helped countless patients. There is an adjustment period, especially if this is the first time you are wearing an oral appliance.
Common Initial Issues with an Oral Appliance
Wearing an appliance every night may take some getting used to. In the beginning you may experience issues such as:
- Excessive drooling – your mouth may mistake the appliance for food and create more saliva than usual.
- Discomfort or tightness – if you have never worn an oral appliance before, such as a retainer following orthodontic treatment, you will not be familiar with the tightness you will feel on the teeth.
- Gagging – if you have a strong gag reflex, you may have a problem and gag more than usual until your body becomes used to the appliance.
- Nighttime removal – some patients have a habit of removing the appliance in their sleep.
How to Get Used to the Appliance
The best way to get used to your new oral appliance is to give it time. It may be frustrating in the beginning, but eventually you will get used to the sensation and not remember a time without your oral appliance. You can help the process along by wearing the appliance during the day for short periods of time to help your body adjust to the feeling. If you notice that after many weeks you are still having issues, be sure to contact us.
If you are located in Auburn & Silverdale, WA or the surrounding area and feel you may be suffering from sleep apnea or TMD, be sure to contact our office to schedule an appointment. We will be happy to evaluate your condition and create a treatment plan if needed. We look forward to hearing from you soon!