Are you planning to travel during the holiday season? For patients with obstructive sleep apnea holiday travel, especially on airplanes, can be complicated.

While airport screeners are familiar with CPAP machines the bins used at the screening area are not particularly clean. I suggest placing your items in plastic bags before placing them in the screening bins to avoid contamination. Some patients choose to pack their CPAP in their luggage to avoid the “hassle” at the inspection line but luggage can be lost and not treating your apnea is a dangerous idea.

People with obstructive sleep apnea that travel frequently often choose an oral appliance instead of a CPAP. Most people who have tried CPAP and oral appliances prefer the comfort and ease of use that an oral appliance provides. There are no hoses to clean, no masks, no worries about distilled water… Your oral appliance is easily cleaned with a toothbrush or some denture cleanser. The oral appliance fits easily into your pocketbook or carry-on and does not require special treatment from agents at the airport. A big bonus – you can comfortably sleep on those long flights knowing that your apnea is controlled and that your snoring won’t disturb the passengers around you.

Find out if you are a candidate for oral appliance therapy by contacting sleep apnea dentist Dr. Mark Levy in Columbus, OH today at 614-476-6696.