Do you Suffer from Snoring? Your Dentist Can Help

Meanwhile snoring is irritating for the rest of your family, it may be a sign of some health problems. According to the National Sleep Foundation, both men and women suffer from this issue and altogether it is 33-50% of the American population. If you snore at times, for example, while having an allergy, then it is not a big problem; but if you snore constantly, it proves you must see a specialist immediately.

Why Snoring is So Bad?

If a person is suffering from constant snoring, he or she sleeps with an open mouth. As a result, it is dry and may become the reason for bad breath. Moreover, excessive snoring may cause other problems like gum disease, burning mouth, etc. Gingivitis can be cured if it is diagnosed at an early stage.  Among the major effects of snoring is, of course, poor sleeping, which enhances the stress level. All in all, it may lead to other illnesses that affect both body and mind.

What Causes Snoring?

Snoring is the vibration that results in a sound when a person inhales or exhales while sleeping. Many reasons cause snoring. They are drinking alcohol, pregnancy, sleep position, exhaustion, the natural shape of a person’s sinuses and mouth, obesity, throat weakness, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The latter is recognized as the most common and at the same time the most dangerous reason for snoring. 

 You should get in touch with a dentist if you notice such symptoms:

•         Waking because of choking or gasping
•         Morning headache
•         Night chest pain
•         Sore throat
•         Restless sleep
•         Endless sleepiness during the day
•         Difficulty to concentrate
•         High blood pressure

You shouldn’t postpone seeing a specialist, as your health and calmness of the whole family is at stake.

How Can a Dentist Help?

A dentist can recommend several options to cope with snoring and forget about sleepless nights forever. The specialist will offer you to think about losing weight, decrease consuming the alcohol at night, stop sleeping on the neck, and diminish the use of sedatives. Besides these well-known strategies, a doctor may suggest oral appliance therapy. It is a great way to treat OSA, and as a result improve emotional stability, alertness, and daytime concentration. Oral devices are recommended for individuals who have a narrow airway or tongue that falls back into the airway preventing normal breathing. A special appliance stabilizes the tongue and lets the airflow go through the airway well.

Peculiarities of Oral Appliance Therapy

Oral appliance therapy includes several steps, that you will go through if you choose this way of overcoming snoring:

1.   Examination.  First of all, a dentist will conduct a complete dental exam to check your tongues, teeth, jaw, and airway. The specialist will tell you more about the treatment, its benefits, expectations, and possible side effects. Then the doctor will take the impressions of your teeth to send to the laboratory where the oral device is made.
2. Fitting the oral device. You will visit the dentist again when the device is ready. The specialist will fine-tune the appliance for maximum effectiveness and comfort. Also, you will receive detailed instructions on how to use and take care of the device properly.  
3. Further regular visits. Once your appliance is fitted, it doesn’t mean you may forget about visiting the specialist. You’d better not wait until you notice signs proving you need to see a dentist. It is recommended to visit the doctor several times after having a treatment to adjust the appliance for getting maximum effectiveness. Be ready, a dentist will ask you to come again to make sure the therapy is effective. Mind, these follow-up visits are important for overall success.

The Last Word

Dentists are just beginning to realize the influence of snoring for the patients. However, it is clear enough, that poor-quality sleep has a negative impact on oral health. If you are eager to stop snoring and let your family sleep well at night, it is recommended to have a conversation with a dentist. In case you are only looking for an experienced family dentist in Albuquerque, then Gallegos Family Dentistry may become your lucky ticket to the world of sweet dreams. The specialists can provide you with oral appliance therapy, after which you will:

•         Sleep better
•         Get more energy for the whole day
•         Feel concentrated
•         Let people around you rest well at night

Feel free to approach cosmetic dentistry in Albuquerque if you have any questions or uncertainties, and receive the answers from experts instantly.