CPAP Alternatives

    OAKTON, VA, October 28, 2012 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) was developed as a treatment for sleep apnea over two decades ago. CPAP devices are machines placed next to your bed that pump a steady flow of oxygen into your lungs while sleeping. Oxygen from CPAP machines in delivered through a series of tubes and masks which must be worn at all times to ensure optimal airflow.

The delivery mechanisms with CPAP machines are bulky and uncomfortable. Many studies have shown that CPAP machines are ineffective due largely to noncompliance from users. These machines can interfere with sleep due to their design, often requiring cognitive therapy to increase the rate of usage among those to whom they have been prescribed.

Alternative to CPAP Machines

Many dentists offer alternatives to bulky, uncomfortable CPAP machines. In fact, treatment of sleep apnea may be as simple as an oral device worn while sleeping. Obstructive sleep apnea is caused by over-relaxation of the throat and tongue. An oral device customized to your mouth by a sleep apnea dentist can hold your tongue in its correct position while also helping keep the muscles in your throat from blocking airflow. Due to this, your airways remain open, oxygen is not interrupted, and sleep apnea is effectively treated.

CPAP machines may be best for some forms of sleep apnea, but are entirely unnecessary for most. More than unnecessary, they may be a hindrance to a good night's sleep, rendering them worse than useless. The best way to determine if an alternative could work for you is through a consultation with a sleep apnea dentist.

If you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea in or around Oakton, Fairfax, Reston, Alexandria, or Arlington, Northern Virginia, or in the Washington, D.C. area and are struggling with your CPAP machine, please visit the website of Softouch Dental Care to learn more about alternative treatment options at www.softouchdentalcare.com.

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