There are many causes of snoring, but some of the most common include excess body weight, use of drugs and alcohol, congestion, swollen tonsils, aging, and sleep apnea. As many as 50 percent of adults have some type of snoring problem.
SNORING
Snoring is the result of the vibration of the soft tissues in your mouth and your throat. While awake, the muscles surrounding these structures tighten, keeping the air passage open. When you’re asleep, these soft tissues relax, allowing your lower jaw and tongue to drop back and block the opening to your airway. This increases the speed of the air flowing through your airway when you breathe, which causes the soft tissues of your mouth to vibrate and create the sound we know as snoring.
Heavy snoring and delayed breathing of ten seconds or more may be a sign of a serious condition known as sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is frequently associated with hypertension, stroke, diabetes, and cardiopulmonary problems, which is why chronic snoring should not be taken lightly.
What You Can Do To Stop Snoring
There are several simple things you can do to try to stop snoring on your own, including:
- Losing weight
- Avoiding drugs and alcohol
- Using a humidifier at night
- Applying nasal strips before bed
If these attempts prove to be futile, you may need to consult with Doctors Holsinger and Higgins about other solutions.
How a Customized Appliance Can Treat Snoring
Snoring is also treatable with a customized oral appliance. To create this appliance, we will make impressions of your teeth which will allow us to craft an appliance that will precisely fit your mouth and teeth.
After you take your appliance home, we suggest that you start by wearing it for 15 minutes for several consecutive nights before going to sleep to allow your mouth to adjust. Although some soreness of the jaw muscle is normal for the first few nights, let us know if the appliance is persistently uncomfortable so we can adjust the fit.
After removing the appliance in the morning, brush it with toothpaste, rinse it thoroughly, then store it in the container provided.
With this simple device, we can treat your snoring so you and your loved ones can go back to getting a good night’s sleep.
Copyright © 2005, Patterson Dental Supply, Inc. All Rights Reserved
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