If you snore too much and decided to seek treatment for it, would you know who to turn to? Many people don’t think to talk to their dentists about their snoring habit. However, your dentist may be the most qualified one to help you stop, and to address the underlying sleep disorder that it may indicate. Quite often, snoring and its associated disorder, sleep apnea, are caused an abnormality in your mouth and/or throat tissues, which partially or completely obstructs your airway while you sleep. In many cases, we can help patients address their condition and prevent airway obstruction with the help of a custom-made sleep appliance.
Is it really an oral health problem?
The fact that snoring and sleep apnea are often caused by oral tissue abnormalities is one of the main reasons why your dentist is the best one to turn to. Though it isn’t as strongly influenced by more common oral health problems (such as plaque buildup, cavities, and gingivitis), the airway obstruction is related to formation and function of certain oral tissues. As sleep breathing disorders, both chronic snoring and obstructive sleep apnea can often be alleviated with treatment that focuses on correcting or properly supporting those tissues.
What your snoring may indicate
When you snore constantly, it may mean that your airway is almost always being partially obstructed while you sleep. Blocking the airway even a little bit increases the air pressure of your breathing, which can cause the walls of your throat to vibrate violently and loudly. However, if you have sleep apnea, then partial obstruction leads to complete obstruction, which stops you from breathing at all for several moments until your body wakes up and clears the airway. The problem with sleep apnea is that, once you start breathing again and your body falls back into rest, the obstruction will repeat itself – a cycle that can occur hundreds of times in a single night.
How your dentist can help you sleep better
If you snore chronically or have obstructive sleep apnea, then treating it will revolve around keeping your airway clear and your breathing consistent throughout the night. For many patients, this can be accomplished with the help of a custom-designed appliance that offers comfortable support for the lower jaw. The jaw’s more comfortable position prevents oral and throat tissues from collapsing into and blocking the airway at night, which allows you to sleep soundly and peacefully throughout the night again.
Talk to your dentist about your snoring habit
A custom appliance from your dentist may help you stop snoring and address the root cause of your obstructive sleep apnea. For more information, schedule a visit by calling Syosset Dental in Syosset, NY today at 516-433-2211 or 516-921-1678.
