Summary
It's important to see your dentist if you're experiencing frequent snoring. A dentist can examine your oral cavity and airway to determine the cause of your snoring and recommend appropriate treatment.
How Can I Stop Snoring?
If you are concerned about your (or your partner’s) snoring, you are right to be worried.
Snoring, and specifically obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), is associated with many health issues.
Loud snoring that is followed by pauses or interruptions in breathing disrupts not just your sleep, but also your partner’s.
Every pause, happening multiple times every hour, disrupts your ability to sleep deeply as your body is alerted to take another breath.
It’s Important to Be Evaluated
It’s important to be evaluated if you suffer from any of the symptoms commonly associated with snoring and OSA, including:
- Morning headaches
- Sore throat upon awakening
- Choking or chest pain at night
- Difficulty concentrating due to daytime sleepiness
- Feeling overly stressed or anxious
Whether or not you have sleep apnea, you can reduce snoring with the following lifestyle changes:
- Lose weight. Excessive weight contributes to snoring because overweight individuals often have extra throat tissue that can restrict the airway.
- Treat allergies or infections. Congestion, allergies, or sinus infections can cause snoring because your airway is obstructed. Treat the cause of the obstruction in order to resolve the infection or manage your allergies.
- Quit smoking. Vaping or smoking can make you snore because the tobacco and nicotine cause the relaxation of the throat muscles, worsening snoring. According to WebMD, research indicates that smoking may cause irritation and inflammation of the upper airways, increasing one’s risk of snoring as well.
- Become a side sleeper. Don’t sleep on your back, but on your side instead. Sleeping on your back causes your tongue to fall backward in your throat. This narrows the airways, so airflow is obstructed. Also, try to sleep with your head raised by about four inches to help reduce snoring.
- Avoid drinking alcohol. Did you know that drinking any alcoholic beverage in the evening before bedtime can cause snoring? Alcohol can relax your body’s muscles, including the ones in your throat, increasing the likelihood of snoring.
Lifestyle Changes May Not Be Enough
It may take more than lifestyle changes to eliminate snoring altogether.
The most common treatment for snoring associated with sleep apnea is the CPAP. But many patients find it to be uncomfortable. In fact, only about 62-71% of all patients who receive a CPAP machine end up using it consistently. If you aren’t using it, it can’t help you.
Your Dentist Can Help You Stop Snoring
It’s important to see your dentist if you’re experiencing frequent snoring. A dentist can examine your oral cavity and airway to determine the cause of your snoring and recommend appropriate treatment.
Here at Aligned Healing we will create a customized comprehensive treatment plan for you that uses a noninvasive, cost-effective oral appliance to correct the issue.
One of the methods we use is the Vivos Method, which is a revolutionary treatment for mild-to-moderate obstructive sleep apnea and snoring. Vivos does not require surgery, it is non-invasive, highly effective, and has a limited treatment time.
In combination with the Vivos appliance, we use the DEKA laser to enhance results. The DEKA QuietNite laser is a quick and non-invasive procedure that can be performed in fifteen minutes or less to improve snoring.
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