It is estimated that over 40% of people snore and although it is more prevalent in men, recent studies show that the number of women who snore is increasing. Not only disturbing the good night’s sleep of a partner, snoring can result in broken sleeping patterns leading to daytime tiredness and reduced productivity levels.
As you begin to drift off to sleep, your soft tissues at the back of your mouth and nose become relaxed causing them to vibrate as you breathe, they may even partially obstruct your airflow. The more narrow that your airway becomes has a direct correlation on how loud your snoring is. This is because the air has to be forced past your soft tissues.
There can be a variety of contributing factors to snoring. Enlarged tonsils or thick soft palate can restrict your airflow. Adding pressure on your throat muscles acerbates the condition and this can be done in a multitude of ways such as being overweight and/or having a large neck and also by sleeping on your back.
Excess consumption of alcohol before sleep can contribute to snoring due to its sedative effect causing your throat muscles to relax even more. Chronic nasal congestion may also be another factor. Additionally if you smoke, this can cause irritation in your throat and nasal cavity, which in turn becomes congested, therefore the air is forced past your soft palate and tissues.
Snoring is a symptom of obstructive sleep apnoea but not the cause. Obstructive sleep apnoea is a serious condition whereby your airway is completely cut off resulting in short periods of non-breathing. This lack of oxygen is registered by your brain which causes a muscle spasm, you wake slightly, resume breathing and go back to sleep often with no recollection of this occurring.
Prior to prescribing any treatment, Tweed Smilecare dentists will conduct a thorough assessment reviewing your medical history and assess your teeth and jaw alignment. A detailed cast of your teeth and gum contour is made from which a precise splint can be moulded. The splint repositions the jaw often pushing it forward and opening your airway allowing you to breathe easier and significantly reducing or eliminating snoring. |
