Non-Invasive Snoring Remedies Can Improve Your Sleep Habits
Snoring and heavy breathing during sleep are both common symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea. Drs. Mark Luria, Mohanad Ballani, and Rena Allswang understand the health risks of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Therefore, they offer custom-crafted oral appliances as snoring remedies at their Dearborn, MI, dental practice. Snoring results when soft tissues block your airway as you sleep.
When you visit Dearborn Family Dentistry for snoring relief, we can a craft custom-made oral appliance that can help realign your jaw to open up your airway during the night. We may also recommend lifestyle changes to alleviate snoring and sleep apnea. Through our customized and compassionate care, we can improve the quality of your sleep and reduce the symptoms of OSA. Often, our treatment can even improve your long-term health.
What Causes Snoring?
When your airway becomes blocked, air must squeeze through your soft tissues as you breathe. This can vibrate the tissues and cause loud noises. Snoring can occur for a variety of reasons, including:
- Enlarged tonsils or adenoids
- Being overweight
- A naturally narrow neck circumference
- Genetics
- Smoking
- Excess alcohol consumption
- Congenital defects, such as a deviated septum
In many cases, snoring is one of the most obvious symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea, though not everyone who snores has OSA. If you have sleep apnea, you will awaken every time your breath is blocked, resulting in frequent sleep disruptions. Often, however, you will not be aware of any interruptions to your sleep. You may notice a number of resulting symptoms of interrupted sleep, including chronic fatigue, irritability, forgetfulness, and frequent headaches.
Snoring remedies will do more than reduce loud breathing and ease embarrassment. If addressing snoring leads to a diagnosis and treatment of OSA, it can help improve your mood, cognitive function, and quality of life.
Diagnosing Snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Snoring is typically easy to diagnose because your partner will likely notice heavy breathing or a choking noise when you sleep. However, working with your general physician, our doctors will conduct a more thorough evaluation to help diagnose OSA. In some cases, we may refer you to a sleep clinic. Alternatively, your doctor may provide you with equipment to conduct an at-home sleep study. By monitoring your heart rate, blood oxygen levels, breath, and other factors, we can determine whether you are suffering from a sleep disorder.
Snoring Remedies at Dearborn Family Dentistry
Oral appliances are often the most effective way to treat both snoring and sleep apnea. Created from impressions of your teeth, these devices will fit comfortably over your teeth and push your lower jaw forward. This slight adjustment in your jaw alignment will tighten your soft palate so that it no longer blocks your airway. Oral appliances are comfortable and convenient for travel.
We may also recommend lifestyle changes to eliminate snoring and alleviate the symptoms of OSA. For example, weight loss can help to reduce pressure on your throat so that it is less likely to constrict while you are asleep. It may also help to change your sleeping position, moving from your back to your side. Finally, quitting smoking or cutting out alcohol can improve the quality of your sleep.
Why It Is Important to Treat Snoring
Snoring remedies will do more than reduce loud breathing and ease embarrassment. If addressing snoring leads to a diagnosis and treatment of OSA, it can help improve your mood, cognitive function, and quality of life. Treatment for OSA can also reduce other health risks such as cardiovascular disease, heart attacks, and strokes. Sleep apnea can also contribute to high blood pressure, affect liver function, and cause weight gain. Finally, the condition can make it difficult to control blood sugar if you suffer from diabetes. Therefore, our simple and highly effective treatments could save your life.
Contact Dearborn Family Dentistry Today
If you are ready to address your snoring and sleep habits, call our office at (313) 565-5507 or contact us online today. One of our experienced doctors can work with your physician to diagnose sleep apnea and provide snoring remedies.
