Snoring is something that many adults experience. It can be annoying to your partner or roommate, and it can also be disruptive to your sleep. If you are snoring occasionally, then it may not be cause for concern. However, if you’re snoring chronically, it can make it difficult for you to get restful, restorative sleep. It may point to some kind of disorder or condition as well. If you have a condition like sleep apnea, you’ll want to treat it right away since it can lead to other health problems. It’s time to figure out what is causing your snoring.
Is Your Snoring Caused by Fatigue or Congestion?
Not every snore is the result of a sleep disorder. Some people snore when they are exceptionally tired. More commonly, snoring is caused by congestion in your sinuses or chest. If you are suffering from a cold, you’ll be more likely to snore at night. If it’s allergy season for you, this can also contribute to snoring. If you snore chronically, but it’s not caused by a disorder, you may be suffering from chronic congestion. You can talk to your doctor about ways to combat this issue.
Is Your Snoring the Result of Sleep Apnea?
If your snoring is the result of sleep apnea, you’ll want to know as soon as possible. Sleep apnea is caused by an obstruction in your airways. When you fall asleep at night, your oral tissues relax, and they may block the flow of air through your throat. This leads your body to eventually wake up and gasp for air. When you experience these episodes, you often won’t even regain consciousness and realize what has happened. That makes it difficult to diagnose sleep apnea on your own.
Diagnose Your Snoring with a Home Sleep Test
A chronic snore isn’t enough to determine whether or not you suffer from sleep apnea. You need to complete a sleep study that can measure how often you’re waking up and the type of sleep pattern you’re experiencing. If the idea of staying overnight at a medical facility isn’t exactly appealing, there are home sleep test options. You’ll take the home sleep test kit with you and wear it while sleeping to measure your sleep for a few nights. This test measures things like heart rate and oxygen flow to diagnose the condition. After completing the home test, your dentist can evaluate your condition.
Treat Sleep Apnea at Smith Family Dentistry in Greenville
Oral health includes your ability to breathe at night. At Smith Family Dentistry, we can administer home sleep tests to diagnose your potential sleep apnea. If you do have the condition, we can often design a custom oral appliance to adjust your bite and allow you to breathe comfortably while you sleep. Learn more about sleep apnea at Smith Family Dentistry in Greenville, TX by contacting our office at 903-455-0516.