Your Dentist may be the last person you’d think of to ask for help with snoring. If you’re one of the many who for years have had to suffer all the bad effects of snoring or sleeping next to someone who snores, then Your Dentist may be able to help by working in partnership with your doctor or a sleep specialist. It is important that people with sleep problems are first assessed medically, which usually involves having a “sleep study” to work out why the problem is occurring.
The design of your throat unfortunately is not ideal because it is not held open or supported by bone structure. As you sleep, the muscles and soft tissue in your throat and mouth relax and this may cause a partial or even a complete blockage of your airway. When your reflexes attempt to get enough air into your lungs for your heart, your brain and your body to function correctly, the speed of the air in the narrower space has to increase and this makes the soft tissues in your throat and mouth vibrate. As a consequence, you start to snore.
Dental appliances can be made to reposition the jaws to open up the throat and improve the flow of air. Your Dentist can select the right type of appliance to help. Often these look something like a double mouthguard and are worn at night. They will either stop your jaw falling back or bring it slightly forward to increase your airway space and so eliminate or at least reduce your snoring.
Just imagine what it would be like to experience and enjoy uninterrupted, deep, rejuvenating sleep. To awaken fully refreshed and to look forward to your new day. Now, Your Dentist can provide an important part of the solution to this medical problem. If you or your partner are snoring or think you have sleep apnoea, you should have a sleep study and then talk to Your Dentist about how dental appliances could help.
