Obstructive sleep apnea happens to be quite a grave ailment. When you have that you are not able to sleep soundly at night as your sleep is disrupted time and again. But thanks to the advent of the oral appliance for sleep apnea you can bid adieu to your sleep sufferings.
Now you do not have to undergo any side-effects of not being able to sleep well at night. The sleep apnea oral appliances have made it possible to treat mild to moderate sleep apnea. It is also said to come with several advantages that include the following –
- This oral appliance helps to control the blood pressure
- It does not call for the labor-intensive, restrictive monitoring that is essential for CPAP
- As compared to CPAP, these devices are capable of reducing cardiovascular diseases
A variety of such tools are available today and the majority of them allow more independence than that of the treatments conducted with the CPAP machines. But you should be in touch with your healthcare professional constantly for the proper upkeep of the machinery.
What is Oral Appliance?
Prior to understanding how to clean it, you should understand how the oral appliances work. This oral appliance is an alternative to the CPAP or Continuous Positive Air Pressure devices that most patients find to be uncomfortable and cumbersome. The oral appliance is portable, comfortable and much smaller.
Tips to Follow for Cleaning Your Oral Appliance
Now that you know that, here are some of the ways in which you can clean the oral appliance. Just read on.
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Don’t Use Toothpaste on the Appliance – The constituents of the toothpaste that is effective to remove the tough stains and polish the hard enamel of the teeth are too hard on the soft surface of the appliance. Without a doubt, once you start using toothpaste, they will create scratches on the appliance. Bacteria can stay hidden in the crevasses that can give rise to oral hygiene issues.
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Don’t Bleach the Appliance – You should avoid the usage of bleach as much as possible as it can break the building materials of the unit and this can result in an unpleasant taste. Instead, you should opt for a liquid dishwasher that comes with anti-bacterial properties which should be followed by a thorough rinse.
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Don’t Boil the Device – In order to clean the device, there is no need to boil it. This way also the appliance will be destroyed or broken down.
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Use a Soft Brush – You should use a soft brush at the time of cleaning the unit with detergent. This will make sure that the component is not damaged.
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Use a Towel on the Sink for Cleaning Your Appliance – At the time of cleaning the appliance, you should use a towel on the sink. Apart from that, you should also use a towel in the sink basin when you can clean the appliance. The soapy appliances can be slippery and can be damaged by the dropping and that’s one mishap that can turn out to be quite expensive.
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Store the Appliance Carefully – You should not leave the appliance carelessly on a nightstand especially when there are children and pets around. They will find and play with the appliances lying around. So storage in a proper case is absolutely essential.
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Keep the Case Spick and Span – You should also make it a point to keep the case as clean as possible. After cleaning you must not keep the appliance in a soiled case only to infest it with bacteria again.
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Find a Dry Cool Place for Storage – You should seek out a dry, dark and cool place for storage of the device and avoid the extreme temperature areas.
The above are some of the things that you should keep in mind for cleaning the oral appliance for sleep apnea for extending its lifetime and making the most of the money invested for purchasing it. With the right aftercare, you can gain the maximum benefits from your oral care device that will help to control your sleep apnea symptoms and ensure that you have a good night’s sleep and wake up every morning feeling fresh and rejuvenated.
Keep Your Sleep Apnea Oral Appliance Clean