Snoring
Snoring can become a family joke, but it also might be a serious health problem.
Does your family complain (or make fun of) your loud snoring? Do you wake yourself up in the middle of the night? Snoring can become a family joke, but it also might be a serious health problem. If you snore loud enough to disturb your partner or yourself throughout the night, it might be time to seek help.
Symptoms and causes
While snoring can be a sign of a good night’s sleep, snoring loudly every night is typically a sign that something is wrong. Snoring is often accompanied by various other symptoms, such as:
- Morning headaches
- Excessive daytime sleepiness
- High blood pressure
- Difficulty concentrating
- Restless sleep
- Chest pain at night
- Dry mouth
- Low libido
There are a variety of reasons why a person might snore loudly:
- Clogged nasal passages due to allergies, a sinus infection, or a deviated septum
- Poor muscle tone in the throat and nose due to aging
- Being overweight
- Use of sleeping pills
- Alcohol consumption
- Cigarette smoking
- Being in a deep sleep
- Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)
Out of all of these causes, OSA is the most common reason for snoring.
More about obstructive sleep apnea
Any combination of the symptoms listed above may be an indication of obstructive sleep apnea– the most common sleep-related breathing disorder. OSA occurs when the throat muscles relax and block the airway. This may happen hundreds of times throughout the night. Patients often snore loudly and wake up gasping for air.
OSA is often treated with a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine. CPAP machines require the patient to wear a make connected to a machine all night long. The machine makes loud noises and the mask is tightly strapped to the head. As you can imagine, this solution doesn’t work for everyone. Because CPAP machines are so uncomfortable and loud, patients have even more difficulty falling asleep (and staying asleep) at night. After this experience, many people with OSA avoid treatment altogether.
Thankfully, there is a much more comfortable alternative found at your dentist’s office: a custom-fitted oral appliance.
How dentists help with snoring
When you visit a dentist for snoring, she will likely recommend oral appliance therapy. A custom-fitted oral appliance is a simple solution to a complex problem. The appliance simply moves the lower jaw slightly forward to open the airway, reduce snoring, and eliminate the symptoms associated with obstructive sleep apnea
Custom oral appliances don’t make any noise, are comfortable, don’t restrict your sleep positions, won’t make you feel claustrophobic, and are easy to travel with.
Snoring relief in san francisco, ca
Our San Francisco, CA dentist offers an alternative to CPAP machines for patients who suffer from snoring or obstructive sleep apnea. Don’t wait any longer to experience the benefits of an oral appliance. Most patients notice a change in their sleep quality immediately!
Dr. Mina Levi is trained to detect snoring issues and provide preventive measures to help control and eliminate it. To learn how Dr. Mina can help you, call (415) 513-5066 to schedule an initial consultation.
