Do you snore? We all do sometimes, but if you do so nightly, then this could actually be a sign of a developing sleep disorder, one that harms your quality of life and even your heart health! In today’s blog, your Greenville, TX, dentist will explain how we help you avoid loud, nightly snores with a custom appliance.
The Source of Your Snore
Why do most of us snore sometimes, while some of us do so on a regular basis? Well, the sound you hear occurs when the air passages in our throat and mouth become partially obstructed as we sleep. As soft tissues block these airways, air becoming forced through vibrates the soft tissues to create a loud noise. While for some this only on occasion, if you encounter this nightly, you could be experiencing warning signs of OSA.
The Warning Signs of OSA
OSA means that as you sleep, you stop breathing several times as air passages block airflow completely. The brain wakes you and you continue breathing, but this interrupts your sleep cycle, even if you rarely remember it happening. You end up feeling exhausted the next day, suffering from dry mouth, moodiness, trouble staying focused, and headaches. Snoring is a common warning sign. If you experience one or more of these possible warning signs, then let us know right away. Our team can diagnose you with a sleep assessment and a home sleep test to see if you need an oral appliance to rest without interruption during the night.
Better Rest Habits
You could help by resting on your side, not your back. Avoiding alcohol, caffeine, large meals, or vigorous exercise in the two hours before bed is helpful too. You should try to maintain a good sleep schedule, and also make sure your bedroom is a dark, cool, and screen-free environment.
Oral Appliance Therapy
What if we find you need an oral appliance to stop your nightly snores and address OSA? If so, we will take detailed images, measurements, and impressions of your smile with digital scanning technology. Using the information we gather, our team will custom fit a device that looks and fits like a mouthguard. Worn as you sleep, the device then supports oral structures and moves the jaw slightly to help ensure you rest without interruption, preventing the collapse of soft tissues. If you have any questions, then contact our team today!
Smith Family Dentistry in Greenville Wants You to Stop Snoring
At Smith Family Dentistry, our team knows how to offer a custom solution to common sleep issues, one that doesn’t involve the loud, cumbersome CPAP machine. To learn more about helping you sleep with ease again, then talk to Dental Sleep Solutions of Greenville by contacting our office at 903-455-0516.