The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently released data from a national survey of sleep habits across the United States. What they found wasn’t surprising. Over a third of Americans reported that they regularly got less than seven hours of sleep a night. This despite the fact that lack of sleep has been connected to a multitude of serious health issues, including exhaustion, obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.

Many different factors can contribute to sleeplessness. Even keeping to a regular schedule might not always ensure a good night’s rest. If your partner snores like a foghorn, you may become sleep deprived despite your best intentions and otherwise optimum health. Likewise, loud and prolonged snoring can be a symptom of sleep apnea – a clear sign that your partner is suffering as well.

Snoring and Sleep Apnea can be addressed in several different ways, ranging from nightly use of a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) device to a simpler, less invasive dental sleep appliance…like the UCLA Adjustable Herbst Sleep Appliance. A custom made removable retainer that your dentist can prescribe, the Herbst sleep appliance is a viable solution to mild-to-moderate sleep apnea – and there are a host of other SML-manufactured sleep appliances available as well. Ask your dentist today for more information!