Most people snore on occasion.
Alcohol is a strong culprit for a rough night’s sleep for any snorer’s loved ones, as it overly relaxed the body and causes the vibrations in the back of the throat that people know as snoring.
Some people are built a little differently and this can also be a cause for snoring as well.
Overweight people find that they snore more often as they have bulkier throat tissues that can vibrate against one another.
People with longer soft palates or smaller nasal passageways may also snore as airways become obstructed.
It is common for snoring to be the result of poor muscle tone in the throat and tongue. These muscles relax and vibrate against the other. This can be a worrisome concern when such suffers actually have sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea is a potentially serious condition where the sleeper may actually stop breathing for several seconds as the airways collapse in on themselves.
The sleeper will awaken with a loud snort or gasp before falling back to sleep, sometimes occurring hundreds of times each night. This has the potential to cause serious fatigue during the day and is also associated with an increase in the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, heart attacks and strokes.
A dentist in Mackay has a solution that might bring an end to this exhausting condition.
By discussing options with one of the team at Walkerston Dental in Walkerston GP Superclinic, Queensland, patients may find a new lease of life that they didn’t know they could achieve before.
What Can a Dentist Do to Stop Sleep Apnea?
When a patient presents with symptoms akin to sleep apnea or has severe snoring that is affecting their quality of life, dentists are able to analyse their condition to see if a specially designed sleeping device will have a positive effect on their condition.
Successful treatment of mild to moderate sleep apnea is frequently attained with the use of a custom-made appliance.
Dentists will have this appliance made especially to fit each individual patient so that it is unobtrusive and comfortable to wear while sleeping.
It works by gently positioning the lower jaw in a more appropriate position whilst the patient sleeps. The jaw usually falls backwards when a snorer is asleep and this is why it is more common for people to snore on their backs where the jaw is more likely to fall into this position,
By using a device which holds the jaw in a slightly forward position, it is able to hold the airways open, eliminating the vibrating and collapsing of the muscles which cause snoring or inhibit breathing.
By having a sleep study done and speaking to a dentist about their options, patients are able to take the first steps in giving themselves and their loved ones a good night’s sleep.
Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
Do you snore or suffer from sleep apnea? What treatment methods have you tried and have you found anything that worked?
