We all snore every now and then, but what if you snore nightly? If you have chronic snoring, this could mean a real risk of sleep apnea, and this could mean you need treatment to protect your immune system, heart health, and overall quality of life. In today’s blog, your Greenville, TX, dentist talks about how we treat snoring and sleep apnea!
Snoring: Causes and Complications
Why do we snore? The sound is created when air is forced through partially obstructed air passages. When these are partially blocked by these tissues, they are vibrated as air travels through, creating a loud sound. Factors behind snoring include sleeping on your back, obesity, large neck circumference, and issues with allergies and sinuses, or even a deviated septum. If you snore on a nightly basis, this could be linked to a serious disorder known as sleep apnea!
Sleep Apnea
With sleep apnea, while you sleep these same air passages are completely blocked by soft tissues, so you stop breathing briefly until the brain notices and essentially wakes you up to resume breathing again. This can interrupt your REM sleep hundreds of times a night, even if you don’t remember it happening. Without treatment, sleep apnea can lead to exhaustion, irritability, and issues with concentration and memory. This disorder could also strain your heart health and immune system too! But we can help you enjoy relief with a custom oral appliance, a noninvasive and comfortable treatment option.
Treatment with a Custom Oral Appliance
Our team will take detailed digital images and impressions of your bite, as well as measurements, so that we can design and custom-fit an oral appliance. This Mandibular Advancement Device will be worn like a mouthguard as you sleep. Once in place, this helps shift your jaw and tongue forward to prevent the collapse of soft tissues. As a result, you can breathe without interruption and wake up feeling more rested and refreshed! This also helps stop snoring too.
You can also make a few improvements to your sleep habits, such as resting on your side, keeping your bedroom dark and cool, and avoiding screens in the half hour before bed. Try to avoid large meals, exercise, or excessive alcohol right before bed, and maintain a regular sleep schedule if you can, going to bed and waking up at the same times daily. If you have any questions about how we treat snoring and sleep apnea with our custom oral appliances, then contact our team today.
Learn More About Improving Sleep with Our Mandibular Advancement Device
We want to help you enjoy a good night’s rest and feel rested during your waking hours. To learn more about treating your sleep concerns or to schedule a consultation, call Dental Sleep Solutions in Greenville, TX, today at 903-455-0516.