Orthodontist Recommends Simple Sleep Device for Those with Moderate Sleep Apnea
(Issued Fall 2021) — It sounds like a fairy tale: The good witch says, “Just turn your clock back and you’ll gain an hour of sleep.”
On November 7, we moved the hands on clocks and watches back an hour — but we didn’t actually ‘gain’ an hour.
For many people, the return to Standard Time in the Fall compounds their sleep deficit and the effects of sleep apnea which affects some 22 million Americans, though 80% have yet to be diagnosed. The Sleep Foundation says many people, with and without sleep apnea, experience a dramatic impact on their circadian rhythm, the physical and mental changes that follow a daily cycle.
Dr. Andrew Chase of ARCH Orthodontics, with offices serving patients of all ages from Boston to Provincetown, says, “If you’ve been diagnosed with moderate sleep apnea by a pulmonologist or other doctor and don’t require CPAP therapy, we encourage you to come in to discuss the benefits of a custom orthotic device to enable you to sleep throughout the night. The device is simpler, easier to use, less expensive, less invasive, and more comfortable. It’s similar to a mouth guard that holds the jaw in a forward position, decreasing the likelihood of the tongue blocking the airway.”
Meanwhile, Dr. Chase offers tips to reset your sleep schedule, whether you have sleep apnea or not:
- Keep a consistent sleep schedule
- Catch up on your sleep deficit in small amounts during the week – not all at once
- Exercise regularly to relieve stress
- Avoid caffeine and turn off electronic devices
- Create a dark and quiet sleep environment
ARCH Orthodontics offers free initial Orthodontic patient consultation (a $500 value) and interest-free financing. Courtesy discounts are offered to patients serving in the military and their families and veterans, and to municipal employees and their families in towns served by the practice. To arrange an appointment: smilemaker@archorthodontics.com / 781-209-6776. Visit www.archorthodontics.com .
