Snoring is a common dental concern that Dr. William Harper often assists patients with. While snoring is extremely common especially in patients who are male, over 40 years old, and suffering from underlying conditions, many patients don’t know a whole lot about snoring’s overall effects on their health. Here are some things that you should know about snoring:
Snoring shouldn’t be ignored.
While snoring is extremely common, it is not a normal bodily function. You should not be struggling to breathe while you sleep, which is essentially what snoring is. Obstructive sleep apnea in particular is the usual cause for snoring. This means that an excess of soft tissue in the back of your throat is preventing you from maintaining a proper airway as you sleep. This is also why many patients who have larger necks or struggle with being overweight often develop sleep apnea over time. If you or someone you know often snore while asleep, this is a concern worth bringing up to a health professional. Often, your dentist can help treat your obstructive sleep apnea through the use of oral appliance therapy. Oral appliance therapy involves the use of a nightguard which helps patients maintain a proper airway as they sleep.
Snoring can affect your relationships.
Many people are unaware that they’ve been snoring until someone else tells them about it. If your roommate or sleeping partner has complained about your snoring, odds are that your snores are causing them to wake up throughout the night. This can place strain on your close relationships and cause resentment over time. Obstructive sleep apnea has many symptoms besides loud snoring. Some of these symptoms include moodiness, irritability, and daytime fatigue. If you experience these symptoms, it’s important to seek out help for your snoring to help reduce the harm caused to your relationships as well as to your overall health.
Snoring doesn’t mean you are sleeping soundly.
Don’t mistake your snores as a sign that you are sleeping soundly through the night. Many patients often find themselves waking up throughout the night. Whether this be because of shortness of breath or because your snores are so loud they are waking you up, this causes a disturbance to your sleep cycle. Even if you are only waking up a couple of times for a few brief seconds, any disturbance to your sleep cycle can have negative effects on your overall health. If you suspect you’ve been struggling with sleep apnea, we recommend scheduling a sleep apnea consultation with Dr. Harper. Diagnosing sleep apnea as soon as possible can help to deter the development of associated health risks and help you restore your good night’s rest.