Maybe your snoring isn’t loud enough to be considered worrisome, or maybe you just don’t know that you snore every night. At some point, however, it may be obvious that your snoring is more than just a routine habit, and that the sound may be more than just an annoyance. At our Grand Prairie, TX, dental office, we can help many patients stop snoring and address its common underlying issue – sleep apnea – with the help of a custom sleep appliance.
What you might not know about snoring
Most people underestimate the importance of chronic snoring because they don’t realize what it means, or what’s causing it. When it occurs consistently, snoring is often the result of tissues partially blocking your airway while you sleep. The blockage creates a smaller airway, which raises the air pressure of every breath you take. The higher the pressure, the louder your throat tissues will vibrate, creating the sound of snoring. This also forces your lungs and body to work harder for less oxygen, which can pose a significant threat to your long-term health and wellbeing if you ignore it long enough.
What it could be telling you about your sleep pattern
For some people, chronic snoring is only a symptom rather than the main condition they should be worried about. The sleep disorder known as obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA, involves the complete obstruction of your airway while you sleep, and snoring is a sign of the obstruction growing. If you suffer from sleep apnea, the condition can cause you to stop breathing momentarily in your sleep, forcing your body to clear your airway. This interrupts your sleep pattern and makes it difficult to reach the deep levels of sleep that are necessary for the cells in your brain and body to rejuvenate themselves.
How your dentist can help you sleep better
Whether you suffer from chronic snoring or more obstructive sleep apnea, you may be able to find relief with help from your dentist. Using advanced technology and extensive knowledge of your oral structures, your dentist may be able to custom-design an oral appliance that can help prevent airway obstruction while you sleep at night. The appliance can support your lower jaw in a comfortable, slightly forward position, preventing your oral and throat tissues from clogging your airway.
Learn how we can help you stop snoring
If you snore every night, or almost every night, then it may be time to talk to your dentist about what options you have to address it. For more information, schedule an appointment with Dr. Smith and our team by calling Pecan Tree Dental in Grand Prairie, TX, today at (972) 262-5111.
