Your sleep impacts every aspect of your health and daily life. Sleeping well helps you to look, feel, and perform your best. With that said, a sleep problem can be harmful to your health and well-being. Snoring is a sound that occurs during sleep when soft tissue in the upper airway vibrates as you breathe. You might consider snoring just a part of your sleep pattern, but it could actually be a sign of harmful breathing patterns.
It is estimated that between 30 and 50 percent of Americans snore on a regular basis. In the vast majority of cases, snoring is completely harmless, with only a tiny fraction indicating something more serious. When it becomes an every night occurrence, however, it can have detrimental effects on an individual’s health and relationships. Fortunately, treatments are available, including dental appliances that help open up your airway for unobstructed breathing, allowing you and those around you to achieve a better night’s rest.
Snoring had been known to be more common in men, but also occurs frequently in women, especially during pregnancy and after menopause. Obesity, nasal obstruction, alcohol and smoking all increase the risk of snoring.
Generally, minor or infrequent snoring is nothing to worry about. It’s a natural occurrence caused by lifestyle, sleeping position, bed type and a range of other factors. It’s only when snoring is loud and habitual that you may need treatment. Fortunately, your dentist is usually in a position to help.
There is a range of treatments available from your dentist that can address the causes of snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. The exact remedy depends entirely on what is causing the problem, and any underlying medical conditions or recommendations from your physician.
Only a certified sleep expert can effectively diagnose obstructive sleep apnea, but as you now know, not all snoring is caused by one condition. Fortunately, dentists have a few treatments for either situation. If snoring is disrupting your health, relationships and day-to-day activities, your dentist can create custom fabricated, removable dental appliances that help put an end to your snoring and allow you to enjoy a quiet night’s sleep.
These appliances are designed to maintain an unobstructed airway in the mouth and throat so that the patient can breathe normally while sleeping and ultimately end snoring. After the cause of the snoring has been figured out, an application can be designed to situate the jaw or tongue from moving and blocking the airway while asleep. Snoring appliances are 85 percent effective and require no surgery, but for the most complex and severe cases, surgery can be a viable option.
Eliminating your snoring will result in a better night’s sleep for both you and those around you, improve your health, and ultimately boost your overall quality of life. Take action now if you are tired of losing sleep and get the rest you need and deserve. Call Hagerman Dental Care at (651) 646-2392 to request an appointment, or request an appointment online.