Snoring, especially excessive, continuous snoring, can lead to adverse health conditions when left untreated. Many of us snore when we have had a long day or have not slept well in a while. However, if you or someone you know suffers from snoring daily, it may impact your sleep and overall wellness. Snoring solutions not only focus on decreasing snoring but also help patients learn to sleep and breathe better, enhancing general health and mood.
At Dental Sleep Solutions Group, we offer snoring solutions for patients with sleep conditions or disorders that cause snoring. Our team can help you get back to better, uninterrupted sleep. To learn more about a procedure or schedule an appointment, call 1-530-727-6080 today.
Not only is snoring disruptive to the sleeper and their partner, but it can also cause a variety of health and sleep-related problems. According to the Sleep Foundation, snoring affects about 57% of men and 40% of women in the United States and even occurs in up to 27% of children. While mild snoring can be unconcerning, excessive and ongoing snoring often suggests a possible severe underlying health issue.
Snoring is caused by the vibrations of the soft tissues in the back of the throat. When we sleep, our airways narrow. In some people, this causes the airways to constrict, making breathing difficult and causes the snoring sounds. Snoring can be the result of a dental or general health condition, such as TMJ disorder, sleep apnea, or a breathing disorder. Risk factors that contribute to a higher risk of snoring include:
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A sleeping disorder refers to habits occurring during sleep that affect breathing and overall health. Breathing pattern disorders (BPD), or dysfunctional breathing, are chronic or recurring conditions that cause a distortion in sleep. Sleep apnea is often referred to as both a sleeping and breathing disorder since these two factors are affected.
Sleep apnea is a serious, life-threatening condition that can greatly reduce oxygen levels, accelerate the heart rate, and increase blood pressure. Oxygen and adequate sleep are essential for proper brain functioning. Therefore, combining low oxygen levels with obstructed sleep can affect multiple parts of the body, such as the muscles, mind, mood, and metabolism.
Airways are often blocked or constricted due to a small jaw, tonsils that lay over the throat, a large tongue, or fat deposits in the back of the throat. Bruxism and TMJ affect the jaw due to constant grinding and clenching, which can affect normal breathing. Our team can properly examine a patient and determine whether they have sleep apnea, whether it is caused by an oral condition, and the necessary treatment for their specific case.
To properly diagnose the cause of a patient’s snoring, we may order imaging tests including X-rays, a computerized tomography scan, or magnetic resonance imaging to check the structure of their airway for problems, such as a deviated septum. We might also conduct a sleep study called a polysomnography, which observes a patient’s sleep overnight. Sleep studies record brain waves, blood oxygen level, heart rate, breathing rate, sleep stages, and eye and leg movements.
Upon diagnosis, we will offer a few recommendations. To begin, we always suggest certain lifestyle changes, such as losing weight, smoking cessation, avoiding alcohol before bed, treating nasal congestion, and avoiding sleep deprivation. We may recommend certain nasal sprays and alternative medicines for those without concrete health problems related to their snoring. Treatments for sleep apnea often remedy snoring, which may include oral appliances, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines, upper airway surgery, and medication. We offer alternative treatments and can discuss these during diagnosis.
Patients can implement various at-home practices to reduce their snoring while seeking treatment and even after. These include regular exercise, sleeping on one side, raising the head of the bed, using nasal strips, sprays, and external nasal dilators, limiting alcohol and sedatives, quitting smoking, and getting enough sleep. There are a variety of homeopathic therapies available since snoring is a common problem in adults worldwide. We can discuss these if a patient is interested.
Patients receiving treatment for a dental condition, such as TMJ, or general health condition, such as sleep apnea or a breathing disorder, often experience improved sleep and reduced snoring. It is important to keep practicing preventative measures, like those listed above or recommended by a doctor, to manage sleep and limit snoring. We also urge patients to continue visiting their primary care physician and dentist in order to keep their health up to par.
How common is sleep apnea?
According to the Sleep Foundation, “Obstructive sleep apnea is estimated to affect between 10-30% of adults in the United States, but many cases are believed to go undiagnosed.” Since a person may go a long period of time without realizing that they have sleep apnea, many are unaccounted for.
What common sleep and breathing disorders cause snoring?
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common sleep disorder, followed by central sleep apnea (CSA). Other common sleep disorders include sleep-related hypoventilation disorders, obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS), sleep-related hypoxemia disorder, and catathrenia.
What are the possible complications of untreated sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea is a life-threatening condition as oxygen is a pertinent component of overall health, affecting nearly every organ. Going without treatment can result in hypertension, heart disease, fatigue, migraines, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, memory problems, weight gain, and liver problems.
What are the long-term effects of untreated snoring?
Going without treatment for a long period of time can have dire effects on the mind and body. Long-term effects of snoring include, but are not limited to, high blood pressure, stroke, heart failure, heart attacks, and irregular heartbeat. It is important to seek immediate help and treatment when first experiencing symptoms.
How can I prevent snoring as I get older?
Snoring typically gets worse or begins as we get older. To combat this effect, we suggest mouth exercises, mouthpieces, treating congestion or a blocked nose, and losing weight. We also recommend avoiding too many medications and sleep deprivation. Your primary care physician can also suggest lifestyle changes to prevent or reduce snoring.
Consultations and treatments for snoring are available at our office. The Dental Sleep Solutions Group team looks forward to treating you and helping you better manage your sleep. Call our office at 1-530-727-6080 to learn more or schedule an appointment.
Dental Sleep Solutions Group is located at 2426 S Main St Suite B Red Bluff, CA 96080.