Treating Your Snoring with a Customized Oral Appliance

If you frequently snore at night, it could be keeping your partner up, which can put a serious strain on your relationship. On top of that, the sound could be a symptom of sleep apnea, a common sleep disorder that could take a toll on your quality of life. In short, it’s in your best interest to have your snoring treated as soon as possible. And in many cases, the best way to do so is to get a personalized oral appliance from your sleep dentist.

What Causes Snoring?

Snoring occurs when your airway is obstructed by relaxed tissues in your throat while you’re asleep. As air passes these tissues, it causes them to vibrate, resulting in the sound recognized as snoring.

There are several risk factors for snoring, such as nasal congestion, being overweight, and drinking alcohol right before bed. However, particularly loud snoring can be a warning sign of sleep apnea. This disorder is characterized by repeated pauses in your breathing that occur while you’re asleep. These breathing interruptions can disrupt the sleep cycle, hindering your ability to get a sufficient amount of quality sleep. On top of that, untreated sleep apnea is linked to a higher risk for serious health issues such as heart attacks.

How Can an Oral Appliance Treat Snoring?

An oral appliance is a simple device that is meant to be worn in your mouth when you go to bed. It is intended to help you maintain a clear airway while you’re asleep by moving the lower jaw slightly forward. Keeping the airway clear can go a long way toward reducing your snoring, and it can lower the frequency and severity of sleep apnea episodes.

Is an Oral Appliance Right for You?

To find out whether an oral appliance is your best option for snoring treatment in Northern Arizona, you will likely need to undergo a sleep study. This involves monitoring your breathing and other vital signs while you’re asleep. The results of a sleep study will help determine whether your snoring is a symptom of sleep apnea as well as whether an oral appliance would be an appropriate solution in your case.

It should be noted that oral appliances tend to work best for patients with mild to moderate sleep apnea. If your snoring is due to a particularly severe case of sleep-disordered breathing, it may be necessary to explore other forms of treatment.

Snoring can be embarrassing, but fortunately, there are steps you can take to address the problem. A personalized oral appliance could be just what you need to stop snoring in Northern Arizona and start enjoying more peaceful, restful nights again.

About the Author

Dr. Jonathan Held is a graduate of the Creighton University School of Dentistry in Omaha. He is the only Diplomate of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine in Northern Arizona, and he is a member of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine. He offers personalized oral appliances to help patients in Prescott Valley, Sedona, and Flagstaff reduce snoring and sleep apnea symptoms. If you believe you’re suffering from sleep-disordered breathing, you can schedule an appointment with Dr. Held at Sleep Better Southwest by visiting his website or calling (928) 778-4555.