A snoring habit isn’t typically the kind of condition you would automatically consider calling your dentist for. In fact, many people who snore chronically don’t even consider it a problem worth calling anyone for. However, the truth is that chronic snoring can become problematic for many different reasons, especially if it’s an indication of a deeper sleeping disorder, such as obstructive sleep apnea. If you do suffer from chronic snoring or sleep apnea, then your dentist may be able to help you address it comfortably with a custom-designed sleep appliance.
Identifying a chronic snoring problem
The problem with a snoring habit is that it isn’t something you’re likely to notice on your own. For most people, the biggest problem is how often it interrupts their sleeping partners or, if loud enough, other family members at night, jolting them awake with the noise. It can become problematic when the snoring occurs most or every night, but it may be more serious of an issue if you try to stop on your own, but fail to. In some instance, chronic snoring can be alleviated with certain lifestyle changes, such as exercising more, eating healthier, and sticking to a consistent sleep schedule. However, if your snoring continues, it could be an indication of sleep apnea.
Chronic snoring and obstructive sleep apnea
Chronic snoring and obstructive sleep apnea seem highly similar on the surface. Both involve consistent, usually loud snoring, and both are caused by underlying factors that often involve one or more kinds of oral and/or throat tissues. However, there’s a significant difference between the two. Chronic snoring makes it harder to breathe while you sleep, but obstructive sleep apnea makes it impossible for several moments at a time. This involves the obstruction of your airway, which is caused by mouth and/or throat tissues, and the cessation of your breathing as a result of it. Because of its origins, sleep apnea requires direct treatment to address and cannot usually be treated with lifestyle changes alone.
How your dentist can help you sleep better
The underlying problem with sleep apnea is that the mouth and throat tissues that collapse into your airway will always do so. This can be due to the tissues overrelaxing when your body enters the first few stages of sleep. Or, the tissues may be oversized, or disproportioned enough to make them collapse into your airway when you fall asleep. For many people, a custom-designed sleep appliance can address the partial or full obstruction that causes you to snore or suffer from sleep apnea.
Talk to your dentist about snoring and OSA
For many people who snore every night or suffer from obstructive sleep apnea, a visit to the dentist can offer a comfortable solution for sleeping more peacefully. To learn more, contact our office by calling Syosset Dental in Syosset, NY, today at 516-433-2211 or 516-921-1678.
