How Your Dentist Can Help Your Snoring And Sleep Apnea

While you are sleeping, it is not uncommon to snore

. According to the National Sleep Foundation, at least 37 million adults snore on a regular basis. However, not all snoring is equal. Occasional snoring, due to congestion or bad sleeping positions, is a nuisance while habitual snoring can disturb your sleep patterns and rob both you and your partner of much needed rest. In addition, snoring to the extent that you stop breathing-obstructive sleep apnea-is a serious health threat that puts you at risk for heart disease and other health problems.

Snoring is such a common problem that many people tend to underrate its seriousness. Disrupted sleep on an ongoing basis can affect the physical well-being of you and your partner alike. ENT specialists are not the only ones who can treat snoring; your dentist can also help with the prescription of a special mouthguard for sleeping. Oral appliances have been effective for many snorers, including those suffering from mild to moderate sleep apnea.

What Causes Snoring?

When you are sleeping, the muscles and soft tissues in your throat and mouth automatically relax. The lower jaw and tongue drop back, helping block and decrease the airway opening. This results in an increase in the velocity of the air flowing through your airway when you breathe. With the increased velocity of airflow, the tissues in your mouth begin to vibrate, resulting in snoring. The sound you hear when someone snores is actually the sound of the tissues in your mouth vibrating.

In severe cases, the collapse of the upper airway is so complete that the lungs may not receive oxygen for up to 30 seconds. This is referred to as obstructive sleep apnea. In response to the deprivation of oxygen, your body triggers an internal alarm, which partially wakes you up. This is usually accompanied by loud gasps for air that can last for 3 seconds or more until you fall asleep and the cycle begins again. Snoring can also be affected by diet, health, lifestyle, age, weight, environment and other factors.

What is an Oral Appliance?

An oral appliance is a device that is inserted into your mouth when you are sleeping to help you stop snoring. The American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine has recently identified oral appliances as an effective treatment for snoring and sleep apnea. An oral appliance is a device offered by your dentist that is fitted into your mouth to prevent snoring. It does so by preventing your jaw and tongue from dropping back into the throat while you are sleeping. One of the main reasons people snore is the tongue dropping back into the throat and the wind from your airway "flaps" your mouth's soft tissue like a flag.

An oral appliance has multiple uses including snoring, bruxism, or teeth grinding and TMJ. The snore guard's unique inner lining is softened by heat during the fitting process and is custom-fitted to your teeth. It fits snugly over your top teeth while you sleep and is designed to prevent your tongue from dropping towards the back of your throat, which helps to keep your airway open.

If you or someone you knows snore, talk to your Dallas dentist today for further consultation. Oral appliances are comfortable and easy to wear so that you can end your snoring problems and get a better night's rest.

by: Gen Wright

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