Snoring is a common sleep disorder that affects roughly 50% of adults. It occurs when the soft tissues in the back of the throat relax while you sleep, causing a vibrating sound as you breathe.
Snoring is caused by a number of things, including nasal congestion due to allergies or colds; the anatomy of your mouth, tongue, and throat; and your weight. When you sleep on your side, your tongue and soft palate relax to the sides of your throat, creating a space that vibrates and causes the snoring sound. Carrying extra weight may also cause snoring, as extra fat tissue can obstruct your airways as you breathe while lying down at night.
There are both surgical and nonsurgical treatments to stop snoring. Lifestyle changes such as losing weight and avoiding alcohol before bed can reduce snoring caused by being overweight. There are also over-the-counter medications that can temporarily reduce snoring caused by nasal congestion from allergies and colds.
Surgical methods include the use of a CPAP machine that helps keep your airways open while you sleep. A mouthpiece may also be worn at night to keep your jaw in proper alignment and prevent the tongue from falling back into the throat. In more extreme cases, surgery to reposition the tissues in the throat or remove excess fatty tissue may be recommended.
Snoring is the sound you make when you cannot breathe through your nose while you sleep. When muscles in your tongue, throat, or roof of your mouth relax too much and block your airway, you snore. While snoring may sound harmless, it can be a sign of sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that impacts breathing while asleep. It causes patients to stop breathing multiple times throughout the night. As the body wakes up from a lack of oxygen, it jolts the brain awake, which prevents you from getting a good night’s sleep. Eventually, this lack of sleep takes a toll on your health and quality of life.
In addition to affecting your sleep, sleep apnea is also linked to other serious health problems such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. Because untreated sleep apnea can lead to so many health risks, it is important to seek treatment for obstructive sleep apnea as soon as possible. You can get help by talking to your dentist about treatment options that are right for you. The dentist may recommend an oral appliance as an option for snoring treatment in Rocklin, CA.
An oral appliance is a small device that sits in the mouth to keep the airway open during sleep. It can be fitted with a custom fit to your unique mouth size and shape to prevent jaw clenching and teeth grinding, which can disrupt sleep and cause snoring. Your dentist will talk to you about the risks and benefits associated with using this snoring treatment in Rocklin, CA. He or she will also give you instructions for wearing and caring for your oral appliance at home.
Get in touch with Sunset Oak Dental in Rocklin, California, to schedule a dental consultation with Dr. Felahy. Call (916) 435-5111, request an appointment online or visit our office at 2161 Sunset Blvd, Suite 300, Rocklin, CA, 95765.
2161 Sunset Blvd, Suite 300
Rocklin, CA, 95765
Sunset Oak Dental
2161 Sunset Blvd, Suite 300
Email: admin@sunsetoakdental.com
Tel: (916) 435-5111
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