Did you know that snoring could lead to trouble sleeping and even a serious disorder known as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)? To avoid the negative impacts on your quality of life, immune system, and cardiovascular system, you may need treatment. In today’s blog, your Allen, TX, dentist explains how we treat snoring with a snore guard.
The Causes of Snoring and Sleep Apnea
We may snore for a number of different reasons. The sound is created when airways become partially obstructed as you sleep. Air being forced through when you breathe then vibrates the tissues and creates a loud sound. Factors behind this could include excessive alcohol consumption before bed, sinus and allergy issues, a deviated septum, and resting on your back. The issue could also be linked to OSA, in which airflow is completely blocked as you sleep, so you stop breathing briefly. This interrupts your sleep cycle and could happen hundreds of times a night, even if you don’t remember it. Over time, OSA could lead to exhaustion, moodiness, more frequent illness, and over time, even heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, and heart attack!
Creating an Oral Appliance
The snore guard is an oral appliance that provides relief for both snoring and OSA. We begin by taking detailed impression and images with digital technology. The images will be used to design and fabricate the oral appliance, which looks and fits much like a mouthguard. When worn at night, the device moves the jaw forward to prevent the collapse of soft tissues, so you stop snoring and also breathe without interruption.
Better Nighttime Habits
You can also make changes to your nightly routine to help you rest easier! For example, you can avoid large meals, caffeine, excess alcohol, and vigorous exercise in the two hours before laying down. Also, be sure to keep your bedroom dark and cool. Try to avoid screen use in bed, especially smartphones, as they blue light the device emits looks like sunlight to the brain. Try to maintaining a good sleep schedule too, going to bed and waking up at the same times every day. These habits help you go to sleep quicker, and enjoy a better night of rest. If you have any questions about treating snoring and OSA with a snore guard, then please contact our team today. We want to help you enjoy a good quality of life with our treatment options!
Talk To Your Allen, TX Dentist Snore Guards
Our team knows the value of a good night’s rest for your overall health, which is why we’re ready to help with a snore guard. To find out more, contact your Allen, TX, dentist, Dr. Torrens-Parker, by calling 469-342-6644.
