Do you often snore at night? If so, this could mean difficulties sleeping for both you and your significant other. To help ease your nightly snores, and also protect you from serious disorders like obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), we suggest a snore guard. In today’s blog, your Allen, TX, dentist explains how we create this custom device.
The Causes (and Possible Complications) of Chronic Snoring
When we snore, this is because the airways in our throat and mouth is partially obstructed by collapsed soft tissues. As we breathe, this forces air through the air passages and vibrates the tissues to create a loud sound. The issue could be linked to OSA, as this disorder occurs when we stop breathing completely due to collapsed air passages, causing interruptions to our sleep cycle that impacts our quality of life and even our overall health. Other factors include excessive alcohol consumption, sleeping on your back, and maintaining a poor sleep schedule.
The Snore Guard
To treat the issue, we will take detailed impressions and images of your smile to create an oral appliance that looks and fits like a mouthguard. The device is then worn as you sleep, and helps move your lower jaw into a forward-facing position to keep airways open and free. Not only do you stop snoring, but this could also provide relief for more minor cases of OSA.
Long Term Problems
Remember, chronic snoring and OSA could interrupt your rest, leaving you feeling tired, moody, and distracted during the day. You may wake in the night struggling to breathe, and experience chronic dry mouth and headaches. Without care, OSA could strain your immune system, which in turn leads to more frequent illness. The disorder also strains the cardiovascular system, a complication linked to high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and heart attack. If you experience one or more of the symptoms we mentioned in this blog, please let us know so we can provide a diagnosis and discuss possible treatment options.
Better Rest
To help yourself rest easier, try to go to bed and wake up at the same times daily. You should also rest on your side, not your back, and avoid alcohol, exercise, or large meals in the two hours before bed. Keep your bedroom dark, cool, and free of TV and computer screens. If you have any questions then contact our team today to discuss possible solutions. We want to make sure you feel rested and alert each and every day!
We’re Ready to Treat Your Sleep Disorder
We want to help you enjoy a better night’s rest with a comfortable and custom-made oral appliance. To learn more about addressing your sleep issues, then contact Allen Family Dental in Allen, TX today by calling 469-342-6644.
