How Going to the Dentist Can Help Snoring 

Snoring is one of the most common sleep conditions that adults in the United States suffer from. Snoring can be caused by a number of factors, and may be something that impacts a person short-term—for example, if they are congested due to a cold—or long-term as a result of a sleep condition, obesity, or another health disorder. 

While snoring may be common, it’s not pleasant. For the person who snores, it could be disruptive enough to lead to instances of lost sleep. Snoring can also dry out the airways and nose, leading to discomfort the following day. And as anyone who’s slept with a snorer will tell you, snoring can be very disruptive to a partner sharing the same bed! If you suffer from snoring, going to the dentist may help. Call Distinctive Dental Solutions today to learn more. 

Snoring Caused By Obstructive Sleep Apnea

One of the most common causes of snoring in adults is obstructive sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea is a sleep disorder where the person who has sleep apnea stops breathing throughout the night at random intervals. One of the most classic signs of sleep apnea is snoring! If you have excessive snoring, this could be a sign that you have sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea is a potentially serious condition that not only leads to immediate and short-term side effects and complications, but the potential for long-term complications as well. 

Treatments for Obstructive Sleep Apnea & Snoring

Before any treatments will be prescribed, your healthcare provider should take the time to explore the potential causes of your snoring or/and obstructive sleep apnea. For the majority of adults who have sleep apnea, the cause is excess weight and obesity. If you are overweight, losing the weight may be all that’s needed to treat your sleep apnea and your related snoring. In other cases, other lifestyle changes—such as giving up alcohol and smoking—can treat sleep apnea and snoring.

In some situations, lifestyle changes are not enough—or are not achievable quickly enough—to treat sleep apnea and snoring. When this is the case, oral appliance therapy may help. An oral appliance is a device that is fitted into your mouth and worn overnight. The purpose of an oral appliance is to keep the airway open while you sleep, treating sleep apnea and alleviating snoring. 

Get Help from Your Dentist Today

At Distinctive Dental Solutions, we are here to provide treatment for snoring, sleep apnea, and a few other sleep conditions, such as teeth grinding. To learn more about our services and how our sleep medicine doctor can help, reach out to us directly by phone or online. We are here to serve you!