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According to the Academy of General Dentistry, medical experts estimate that more than 30 million American adults snore on a regular basis. The severity of snoring varies. It can be a mild nuisance that disturbs a restful night's sleep or a symptom of the more serious, progressive disorder called sleep apnea. With a history of snoring, it may develop into more serious sleep disorder symptoms, including excessive daytime sleepiness, memory impairment, morning headaches, and even poor work performance. Untreated sleep apnea affects your well-being. It may also contribute to high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and even memory or concentration impairment. Paying attention to your snoring habits and their impact on your quality of life is important. Snoring: The Basics Snoring or gasping sounds during sleep are caused by the vibration of relaxed, floppy tissues that line the upper airway (or throat). When you sleep, muscle tone decreases throughout your body, and your throat muscles relax, causing the soft palate and the uvula to vibrate as you breathe in and out. You can make a positive lifestyle change to minimize snoring by:
* Losing weight
* Quitting smoking
* Getting treatment for allergies if you have them
* Limit or avoid alcohol use and sedatives
* Sleep on your side instead of your back If you snore, your dentist can help or refer you to a physician to determine if there is an underlying medical problem. What is Sleep Apnea? Sleep apnea is a serious and potentially life-threatening sleep disorder, affecting approximately 18 million Americans. It refers to episodes in which a person stops breathing for 10 seconds or more during sleep and with each episode, the sleeper's brain briefly wakes up in order to resume breathing, resulting in extremely fragmented and poor-quality sleep. There are two major types of sleep apnea, both of which can severely disrupt a person's regular sleep cycle: obstructive and central sleep apnea. With obstructive sleep apnea, as you sleep the muscles in the walls of your throat relax to the point where the airway collapses and prevents air from flowing into your nose and mouth, but efforts to breathe continue. On the other hand, with central sleep apnea breathing interruptions during sleep are caused by problems with the brain mechanisms that control bleeding. Treating Snoring and Sleep Apnea: Did you know your dentist can help?
Your dentist in West Chester, PA may recommend an oral appliance which is based on the same principle as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The airway must be opened to allow air to pass through the throat. A constricted or collapsed airway causes snoring and/or sleep apnea. The appliance holds the lower jaw in a forward position so that it does not fall open during the night and cause the airway to collapse. It helps to maintain a clear airway to reduce snoring and improve your breathing.
Additionally, you may also be a candidate for a new oral appliance that is similar to an athletic mouth guard. This oral appliance is worn while sleeping to help with your snoring or sleep apnea. Contact your West Chester dentist today for more information about how you can treat your snoring or sleep apnea. After a series of tests your dentist will be able to come up with an appropriate treatment plan.
Sean Hartmen writes for Dr. Jeffrey Penfil, West Chester dentist, who has been a solo practitioner since 1992. Focusing on prevention and treating the person as a whole, not just the mouth, Dr. Penfil is committed to providing optimum dental care for every patient with procedures such as treatment for dental phobia in West Chester.
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