You’re looking at your partner, mouth agape as they raucously snore, trying to remember all of the good times that you’ve had together. The fond memories are the only reason you aren’t bashing them with a pillow right now. It’s always a race for you to fall asleep every night so that you don’t have to contend with their snoring, and tonight you lost…badly. You can’t go on like this, something has to change. How can you stop your partner from snoring? What is causing it? It actually may be a sign of sleep apnea, which is a serious condition that affects over 20 million Americans each night. Fortunately, you can now help your partner stop snoring with sleep apnea treatment in Virginia Beach, VA from Smiles By Design.
What Causes Snoring?
Snoring is a very common condition that affects about 90 million people. It is typically caused by the flow of air being partially blocked during sleep. This can happen for a number of reasons:
- Congestion: If your partner is experiencing a cold or sinus infection, this blockage can lead to snoring.
- Relaxed throat and tongue: This tissue can relax whenever they lay down to sleep and can partially obstruct their airway. The passing air causes it to vibrate, creating the iconic snoring sound.
- Weight: People who are overweight very often snore because they have a large amount of throat tissue that can affect how they breathe when they sleep.
- Tobacco and Alcohol: Both of these can lead to an increase in the production of mucus in the mouth and throat, as well as swelling and irritation, which can cause a blockage while sleeping.
- Large tissues in the mouth: Large tonsils, a long uvula, or an extended soft palate can all cause snoring.
Snoring can simply be annoying, or even indicate something as serious as sleep apnea. This is a condition where your partner’s airway can become completely blocked during the night and prevent them from breathing. This can happen multiple times over the course of the night and does not always wake a person up. It is very stressful for their body, and can increase their risk of diabetes, stroke, and heart disease. Whether or not snoring indicates sleep apnea, it can make it very difficult for you and your partner to get restful sleep, but thankfully, your dentist in Virginia Beach, VA can easily treat both using the same method.
How To Treat Snoring/Sleep Apnea
Other than sleeping on the couch for the rest of your life, one of the easiest ways to treat snoring and sleep apnea is with oral appliance therapy. This is a simple mouthguard that your partner would wear every night to bed to prevent them from snoring. It works by slightly shifting their jaw forward so that the soft tissue in their mouth and throat cannot collapse into their airway. This is also how it prevents their airway from becoming totally blocked. Every oral appliance is custom made for each patient using flexible and durable materials. They are comfortable and your partner should be able to talk and drink normally while wearing it. Oral appliances have been shown to dramatically reduce snoring, along with the symptoms of sleep apnea, for 95% of the patients who use them consistently.
Get Treatment Today
If you or your partner are suffering from snoring or sleep apnea, please come see us today so we can help you both rest tonight. Sleep is an essential part of maintaining your mental and physical health, and we want to make sure that you sleep peacefully every night.