Has your partner told you that you snore in your sleep? Or have you perhaps awoken yourself with a loud snort? The fact is that 40% of men and 24% of women snore in their sleep. Snoring is different from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). While snoring is a symptom of OSA, someone that suffers from OSA temporarily stops breathing while they sleep, and snorers don’t.
That’s not to say that snoring should be ignored. It causes a lack of good sleep that can result in excessive daytime drowsiness, headaches, moodiness, irritability, and depression. It can have a negative effect on your school or work life, your personal life and your ability to drive.
Causes of Snoring
- Obesity and pregnancy lead to an increase in throat tissues, which can vibrate when you breathe in air as you sleep, causing you to snore.
- Genetic factors like large adenoids, enlarged tonsils, having a long soft palate, or a long uvula.
- Allergies, congestion and certain nasal structures can all prevent you from being able to breathe through your nose.
- Alcohol and certain medications like muscle relaxers, normal aging, and years of smoking relax the muscles of the throat or tongue.
If you suspect or know that you snore, you should first talk to your primary care physician to make sure you don’t have a severe case of sleep apnea. They may request a sleep study which is a test that will determine whether or not you have a specific type of breathing disorder that can be treated by a dentist, and how severe it is.
What to Expect During Your Sleep Study Test?
Fortunately, there are at home sleep studies available but it’s up to your physician to decide which one is right for you. A traditional exam will take place in a sleep lab. So, bring your jammies and plan to spend the night. Electrodes and wires are attached to different parts of your head and body. It’ll look pretty intimidating, but the process is painless. While you sleep, a technician will monitor your brain activity, eye movements, oxygen levels, breathing patterns, respiratory efforts, snoring, muscle tone, leg movements, heart rate, and more. The activity of all of these things will contribute to your diagnosis.
If it’s determined that you do, just, in fact, suffer from snoring or a mild to moderate case of sleep apnea, then we can help provide you with some relief. Our snoring/sleep apnea dental appliances in Raleigh, NC can keep your snoring under control and may prevent you from having to wear a CPAP.
Oral Sleep Appliances
Our custom fit appliance works by guiding the bottom jaw forward, opening your airway, and allowing you to breathe more freely. The slim, ergonomic design is easy to wear and clean as well. It’s a quick, cost-effective fix that doesn’t require expensive machinery or painful surgery. It’s also easy to travel with – just pop it in its case and go. There’s no need to pack up hoses, a machine, and carry special water around while you’re on vacation.
If you’ve been suffering from any of the above symptoms and want a custom snoring appliance, then call our Raleigh sleep dentistry practice today. You and your sleep partner deserve to have restful, quiet sleep. Don’t wait another day. Call now!
