Snore Therapy
If your partner complains frequently about your snoring interrupting their sleep, consider asking your doctor or dentist about snore therapy. We offer snore therapy oral appliances at Hale Family Dental that are effective and comfortable.
Snoring and OSA
Between 50 to 70 million Americans live with a sleep disorder, and between 30 to 50% of Americans experience snoring of some level. Snoring is often caused by a sleep disorder called obstructive sleep disorder (OSA). OSA happens when the airway is blocked by the soft palate or the tongue while sleeping. Individuals with OSA have trouble breathing while sleeping and wake up frequently throughout the night, which means they don’t get restful sleep. After a while, this can really take a toll on your body. Snoring is a symptom of OSA, and the two are often linked, but not all snoring is caused by OSA. Other symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea include:
Headaches
Irritability
Fatigue during the day, while driving, or at work
Quickly falling asleep while sedentary
Anxiety
Depression
Mood swings
Pauses in breathing while snoring
Sudden choking or gasping after pauses in breathing
Dry mouth or sore throat upon waking
If you experience some of these symptoms as well as snoring, visit your dentist or doctor, who can formally diagnose you and create a treatment plan for you.
Treatment options for snoring and OSA
The two most common treatment options for snoring are a CPAP machine or a custom-made oral appliance. A CPAP machine delivers a steady flow of oxygen to your nose and mouth. To you or your partner, however, the sound of a CPAP machine might be worse than your snoring. Hale Family Dental designs custom-made oral appliances that shift your jaw and tongue so that the airway stays open. Similar to a sports bite guard, it’s made by taking impressions of your teeth. The impressions are sent to a dental lab, where your snore therapy appliance will be created.
Call or stop by Hale Family Dental if you’re ready to stop snoring!