Even at its loudest, you might not realize that snoring has a direct impact on your quality of sleep. Anyone who can hear it will probably lose sleep, but the fact that you’re snoring means your body is also struggling to get the rest (and oxygen) that it needs. At our Auburn Hills, MI, dental office, we may be able to help you stop snoring and improve the quality of your sleep. If your snoring is a symptom of a more serious sleep disorder, like obstructive sleep apnea, we may also be able help you address it with a custom-designed appliance.
It could be an oral health issue
One of the more commonly misunderstood things about snoring is what exactly causes it. This can be a number of things, but for chronic snorers, it’s often some level of obstruction in the airway, often from mouth and throat tissues. Your dentist specializes in studying and treating issues with these tissues’ growth and development, and as such, can help you determine if any oral health or tissues abnormalities could be causing the chronic airway obstruction. Your dentist can also recommend that you undergo a more thorough sleep examination to determine if you have obstructive sleep apnea, which is often marked by chronic, loud snoring.
It might mean more than you realize
Obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA, is a chronic sleep disorder that involves the same type of airway obstruction as less severe snoring. The difference is that, for sleep apnea sufferers, the obstruction becomes so severe that it stops them from breathing completely while they sleep. Consequently, this also temporarily stops the snoring. However, after your body clears the airway and you start breathing again, the obstruction will occur again, and the cycle will repeat itself. Chronic snoring can impact your ability to get enough oxygen while you sleep, but if it’s a sign of sleep apnea, then you’re losing more oxygen and deep sleep than you may realize.
Your dentist might have the solution
Not only does your dentist have expert knowledge of your oral health, but in many cases, can also help you alleviate your chronic snoring habit or sleep apnea condition with a custom-designed oral appliance. A sleep appliance can be designed to keep your airway open while you sleep by offering customized support for your lower jaw. If you’re diagnosed with sleep apnea, then a sleep appliance can provide you with a more comfortable solution than the traditionally prescribed CPAP machine, which involves the use of continuous positive airway pressure to prevent airway obstruction.
Tell your dentist about your snoring habit
If you snore every night, then it’s worth mentioning it to your dentist and finding out how to put a stop to it. To learn more, schedule an appointment or initial consultation by calling Advanced Dental Concepts in Auburn Hills, MI, today at (248) 852-1820.
