If you are diagnosed with sleep apnea, there are numerous CPAP dangers to which you should be aware. Furthermore, if you don’t want to use a CPAP device, you have a variety of treatment choices other than the machine. While these machines have assisted many with apnea in regaining better sleep, they are not the only answer. For some people, though, they are not even the greatest solution. If you or someone you care about has apnea and is looking for a treatment option, you should thoroughly investigate your choices before making a decision.
The Top Three CPAP Threats
For those who are unfamiliar with a CPAP machine, it is a device that helps individuals with sleep apnea breathe correctly at night. It maintains proper airway pressure, ensuring that your breathing passages do not collapse and cause you to stop breathing while you sleep. This happens while the person suffering from sleep apnea wears a mask while sleeping. Carefully calibrated pressurized air is fed through a hose and into the mask and into the lungs of the patient, thus allowing them to sleep without threat of airway collapse.
The first risk of the CPAP with this kind of equipment is that the mask will get worn out. That mask is constantly in touch with all of the dust, grime, and oil on your face. When you put on the mask, any skin irritation you may have will increase a hundredfold.
Another disadvantage of using a CPAP machine is chronic diseases. Many people who use these breathing machines for sleep notice that they become sick more frequently than before. A slew of issues can be prevented by washing Your machine and other collected items on a regular basis. Even if you clean your equipment and other objects on a regular basis, germs may persist in your equipment. Common repeating illnesses include sinus infections and strep throat.
The biggest concerns with CPAP equipment are that it may grow mold or mildew within the machine and tubes if it isn’t cleaned out on a regular basis. That means you risk inhaling these particles each time you turn on your CPAP machine.
In addition, some CPAP machines have been made using carcinogenic noise abatement foam that breaks down and is inhaled without the user realizing it. While these machines have been recalled, the company has not been quick to replace the machines, leaving many patients without treatment.
So, Is My CPAP Harmful for Me?
The solution to this is somewhat up in the air. Your CPAP machine was described as being required for your survival. As a result, it has gotten increasingly more important. If you aren’t cleaning your CPAP machine and disassembling it on a regular basis, though, it may be doing damage to your health. If you take your machine apart and change the tubing on a frequent basis, some of these dangers may be eliminated. The issue is that while you’re wearing the mask, you’re still exposed to it and might become ill.
What are Safe and Effective CPAP Alternatives?
You were educated on how to stay safe after you got your diagnosis of sleep apnea. Much of that information, no doubt, included clearing out the obstructions in order to allow you to breathe more comfortably at night. Naturally, your CPAP machine provided you this advantage. When you discovered about your CPAP machine, did you have any other choices? Many individuals are unaware that there are alternatives to CPAP that would be better for them.
An oral appliance that maintains the teeth in a defined position while you sleep is one of the best CPAP alternatives. You put this device in your mouth before going to bed, then go to sleep as usual. As you sleep, the airway remains more open, allowing you to breathe more easily. This device is simple to install and remove, as well as transport. It is a non-invasive CPAP alternative that doesn’t compromise your comfort or health.
In addition to being safe and effective, oral appliances are also much more affordable than the expensive CPAP machines. It can be difficult to obtain a standard CPAP machine. Insurance companies are sometimes hesitant to provide costly equipment, delaying you from obtaining one when first diagnosed. Furthermore, there are continuing expenses to operate the device each night. You may acquire an oral appliance within a week or two of receiving your dentist’s diagnosis and there are no ongoing expenses.
Getting a Sleep Apnea Oral Appliance
The first place you look when you want to learn more about an oral appliance is your dentist’s office. They will make a mold of your mouth and design the appliance. The mold needs to set up for a few minutes while you maintain your mouth in a specific position. After that, simply wait while the device is created in the laboratory. You will then come into the office and receive a proper fit when the appliance returns.
Your dentist will make sure that your oral appliance fits properly and does not put any pressure on your mouth. You may keep it if you agree that the device fits correctly. Otherwise, adjustments can be made with little to no delay. Then you’re able to take the device home and start using it right away.
To preserve your oral appliance, simply brush it and clean it thoroughly each morning when you remove it. This eliminates the presented CPAP concerns, allowing you to breathe safely every night. In this manner, you can manage your sleep apnea without the dangers or costs associated with a CPAP machine.
Call Jeffrey W. Cross, D.D.S., F.A.G.D., for a CPAP Oral Appliance Consultation
If you’re looking for a secure alternative to CPAP, contact the office of Jeffrey W. Cross, D.D.S., F.A.G.D. He is an expert and has dealt with assisting individuals in receiving oral appliances that are safer than regular CPAP machines for years. His staff can assist you in getting the procedure started right immediately. They may manage the mold, deal with the lab, and deliver your oral device to you quickly.