Does this picture look familiar? Have a spouse that keeps you up all night from snoring? Snoring is that harsh sound that occurs when your breathing is obstructed in some way while you are sleeping. It occurs when air flows past the soft, relaxed tissues in your throat, causing them to vibrate. If the air is obstructed in anyway, then it comes out as snoring. Some risk factors involved are being overweight, drinking too much alcohol at night, narrow throat and esophagus, enlarged tonsils and adenoids, and colds, just to name a few.
Good thing is, now dentists can help treat snoring! There are a variety of OA’s, oral appliances, that can help with snoring. These oral appliances help reposition the lower jaw and and stabilize the tongue so that air can move in and out without being obstructed. They are typically the size of an athletic mouthguard or retainer and are usually made of plastic or acrylic. They are custom fitted to the patient, and adjusted and monitored regularly by your dentist. There are also medical devices and surgery available for some patients, but may not be suitable for everyone who snores.
You can find out more information about this on the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine’s website at:
CLICK HERE TO GO TO WEBSITE
Ask us about it the next time you come to see us.