Partner can’t sleep because you snore? Is it finally time to eliminate it? Ritchie Dental Group can determine if oral health is impacting your sleep.
Snoring sounds can develop when the tissue in the back of the throat collapses onto the soft palate. This narrows the air passageway. As you breathe, this area opens and closes—with a noisy result.
Your snoring may be a symptom of a condition called sleep apnea. With Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), the air passageway not only narrows, you actually stop breathing. These pauses can last for up to a minute and repeat hundreds of time per night.
Many individuals with sleep apnea snore, but not all snorers have sleep apnea. Regular snoring does not generally wake you up during the night. (Though it may wake your partner up again and again.)
Is My Snoring a Symptom of Sleep Apnea?
- Do you wake up multiple times during the night gasping?
- Are you excessively tired during the day?
- Do you wake up with a headache?
- Do you easily doze off during the day?
- Are your mouth and throat noticeably dry when you wake up?
Snoring should not be ignored. It has significant health consequences. And sleep apnea is even more dangerous because it completely cuts off the oxygen flow.
There are three types of sleep apnea:
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea: This is the most frequent type. It is caused by throat muscles relaxing and blocking the airway.
- Central Sleep Apnea: The cause of breathing cessation is the central nervous system. The brain fails to control the breathing muscles.
- Complex Sleep Apnea Syndrome (Treatment-emergent Central Sleep Apnea): This condition is present when a person has both obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea.
Can My Dentist Help Me Stop Snoring?
Your dentist may treat snoring and OSA. Your dentist may provide Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT). A custom-made mouthpiece can keep your airway open throughout the night. Talk to your dentist about your snoring.
