If you snore on a regular basis, this could mean you may have a sleep disorder. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) could cause serious problems for your quality of life. With that in mind, we suggest letting your Greenville, TX, dentist know so we can offer solutions to help you rest easy!

The Causes and Dangers of Snoring

Why do we snore at all? The issue means that airflow is partially obstructed as you breathe, which occurs when the soft tissues in the back of your mouth and in your throat become too relaxed and collapse. When you breath, this forces air through these now narrow passages and creates a loud noise once the tissues vibrate. The danger is that you’re not breathing very well, and complete airflow blockage could cause the brain to wake you up and correct the cessation of breathing. These episodes could impact some of us hundreds of times a night. Known as OSA, this disorder leads to daytime drowsiness, moodiness, and could strain your immune and cardiovascular systems!

Better Sleep Habits

Let’s first talk about ways to change your resting habits to limit the risk of snoring and OSA episodes. For example, you can maintain a regular schedule of going to bed and waking up at the same times each day. Also, keep your bedroom dark and cool at night. Being screen-free in the bedroom is helpful too, especially since the brain interprets the blue light emitted by smartphones as sunlight. Try to avoid excessive alcohol consumption, as well as vigorous work-outs or large meals in the two hours before bedtime. Finally, be sure you rest on your side instead of your back!

Treatment with a Sleep Appliance

If the actions above fail to address your snoring, then let us know. We will start with an assessment of your resting habits, and then may send a small device home with you that sits at your bedside and registers cessation of breathing, oxygen levels, and other indicators of poor rest. From there, we may prescribe an oral appliance. The sleep appliance will fit snugly over your teeth like a mouthguard and is worn as you rest at night. Since the device repositions the jaw by moving it forward, this helps prevent the collapse of soft tissues, so you breathe without interruption and avoid the collapse of tissues linked to snoring and OSA. If you have any questions, then contact our team today to talk about possible solutions or schedule a visit!

Smith Family Dentistry in Greenville Is Ready to Help

At Smith Family Dentistry, we’re ready to help you rest easier with a comfortable and convenient treatment option. To learn more about putting a stop to nightly snoring, then talk to Dental Sleep Solutions of Greenville by contacting our office at 903-455-0516.