Snoring affects millions of people of all ages, both male and female. Oral appliance therapy is the most common treatment for the most severe snoring problems. Treatment procedures range from changing your sleep patterns to utilizing orthodontic-related appliances that help open the airways during sleep.
What makes the sound of snoring?
Snoring is caused by the vibrations of your soft and/or hard tissue palates; these vibrations occur because of increasingly narrow air passages. When air passes through these passages, a “flapping” sound occurs because the tissue is soft in nature. Surgery (to alleviate the snoring) is not always successful, however, because the sound may not originate from the soft palate; the snoring sometimes originates from tissues in the upper airway.
Loud snorers may have a more serious case of blocked air passages, known as apnea.
Common causes for snoring:
- Smoking
- Alcohol
- Health Problems
- Obesity
- Obstructed Nasal Passages - Deviated Septum
- Poor Muscle Tone of the Tongue
- Daytime Fatigue
- Sleep Apnea
- Hypothyroidism
- Allergies
Is there a snorer in your house?
Snoring is a sign of the upper airway being partially obstructed during sleep. OSA (Obstructive Sleep Apnea) is when there are moments breathing stops which fragments one’s sleep and can reduce the level of oxygen in the bloodstream and lead to daytime sleepiness.
How can my dentist be of help?
Your dentist may be the first medical professional to identify that a problem may exist. Just think about it; when you are reclined in the dental chair, the dentist can see the position of your tongue and throat structures very much like when you lay down to sleep.
Your dentist can refer you to a Sleep Physician for necessary diagnosis to determine if there is a presence of snoring and/or Obstructive Sleep Apnea.
What if I am just a snorer or have only mild apnea?
An oral appliance, which you wear during sleep, will reposition and hold the lower jaw forward to prevent the tongue and other structures from obstructing or blocking the airway.
I feel tired most of the time. Could apnea be the cause?
People who experience hypoxia (reduced levels of oxygen in the bloodstream) during sleep frequently report feeling some degree of daytime sleepiness. This is associated with high blood pressure, strokes, mood disturbance, fatigue, memory impairment and also drowsy driving.
According to the National Highway Safety Administration, drowsy driving causes more than 100,000 police reported crashes, 71,000 injuries and 1,550 deaths each year. But the problem may be even more serious than we think! It is believed that fatigue related crashes are vastly under-reported.
How do I find out if I have apnea?
Only a sleep study, called a polysonogram, can give an exact diagnosis of the severity and frequency of apnea. If one has moderate or severe apnea, then the sleep physician will probably prescribe a CPAP. This is a machine that gently blows air to keep the airway open during sleep and is highly effective.
What if I also have TMJ dysfunction or migraines?
While some people experience only snoring or OSA, or only TMJ, or only migraines, there are others that experience some of the two or some of all three. Often one’s symptoms are so commingled that it is difficult to know what is happening. That is why visiting a Dental Sleep Professional is an excellent place to start.
A dentist knowledgeable in treatment for snoring/mild sleep apnea, TMJ and headaches can serve as your central caregiver monitoring the treatment and management of any of the above conditions that need care.
Where can I find a Dental Sleep Professional?
Ask your family dentist if he/she is trained in these treatments. Visit www.aadsm.org (American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine).