3 Useful Tips for Adjusting to a New Oral Appliance

If you’ve just started wearing an oral appliance to assist with managing your sleep apnea, you’re probably feeling pretty ecstatic to have a new piece of equipment that’ll help you get a good night’s sleep once more. However, you may be worried that it’ll be tough to adjust to wearing your new headgear; after all, it might seem a little awkward and clunky at first. But you have nothing to fret over! Keep reading to learn a little more about a few of the issues that patients experience while adjusting to their new oral appliance, along with some useful tips for making the transition much easier!

Common Issues Patients Experience While Adjusting to Their Oral Appliance

It’s normal for patients to experience uncomfortable and irritating issues while adjusting to their new oral appliance. Here are some of the most common discomforts associated with this period:

• Drooling – Your mouth can produce more saliva than usual, due to it initially mistaking your appliance for food.
• Gagging – Patients with sensitive gag reflexes experience difficulty when trying to place their appliance.
• Nighttime removal – Your body can sometimes subconsciously remove your oral appliance while you’re asleep without you realizing it.
• General discomfort – The appliance will feel unnatural at first, and you might also experience some tightness; however, this ensures that it’s working as intended!

Useful Tips for Adjusting to Your New Oral Appliance

You aren’t going to immediately adjust to wearing your new appliance. Generally speaking, it takes most patients around 2 to 3 weeks for their bodies to fully adapt, but some might continue to struggle. Fortunately, there are several ways of alleviating most of the discomforts and annoyances. Consider the following tips:

1. Regular Cleaning & Maintenance

It goes without saying that you should strive to regularly clean and maintain your oral appliance. This helps to ensure that it’s always working as intended but also prevents it from spreading harmful germs to your teeth and gums. Your dentist will provide you with detailed instructions for how to do this, and don’t hesitate to let them know if you encounter any issues.

2. Good Sleeping Habits

Aim to lessen the impact of other bedtime distractions or disruptive habits, like late-night snacking, smoking or drinking before bed, or excessive screentime. Even ensuring that your bedroom is at the right temperature and free from hair, dust, or pet dandruff can go a long way toward promoting a good night’s rest.

3. Consistency & Patience

Your oral appliance is not a one-time fix; consistency is key, and in order for it to gradually do its job and also begin to feel more comfortable to wear, you need to be sure that you’re wearing it every single night unless otherwise instructed by your provider. It’s also important to remain patient; in due time, you’ll hardly even notice it while you’re wearing it at night!

About the Author

Dr. Ivan Paskalev and his talented team have proudly served patients and families in the Eugene, OR area for several years. Dr. Paskalev has spent his career studying sleep dental medicine and his practice is excited to offer the latest in oral appliance therapy and other related services. If you have any questions about the article or you’d like to schedule a visit for you or a loved one, you can contact the practice online or by phone for further assistance. Telephone: (541) 246-8284.