Why do I snore?
Snoring occurs because of upper airway obstruction. The soft tissues in the upper airway vibrate when you breathe in and out. Snoring becomes louder when there is more obstruction. This can become a medical problem if you are not taking in enough oxygen due to the obstruction, or if you are not expelling enough carbon dioxide.
What is sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea is when there is absence of breathing. Symptoms that might indicate sleep apnea include snoring that is so loud it bothers others and daytime sedation (especially after a full night of sleep). The daytime sedation can lead to falling asleep easily such as in class or driving.
Snoring reduction aids
If your doctor has already ruled out sleep apnea, then consider talking to him or her about other snoring reduction aids. Examples of a snoring aid are a Breathe-Right strip, to help clear your nasal passages, or medications to reduce nasal congestion.
Tips that may help with snoring
- Avoid drinking alcohol right before going to sleep. If you do choose to drink, quit at least two hours before you plan on going to sleep. Alcohol can relax the throat muscles, and that flaccid tissue facilitates snoring.
- Avoid eating right before you sleep. Eating right before sleeping has similar effects to alcohol.
- If you smoke, quit. Smoking causes nasal and lung congestion. It can also limit the amount of oxygen entering your system.
- Consider losing weight, if necessary. Weight loss has been shown to reduce snoring.
- Try a different sleeping position. Some people use pillows to keep them on their sides rather than back-sleeping. There are also specially shaped pillows you can purchase.
Consider talking to a physician about your snoring. If you have tried different techniques and still experience problems, there may be other issues to be addressed.
Signs of Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a potentially serious sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts. If you snore loudly and feel tired even after a full night’s sleep, you might have sleep apnea.
The most common symptoms of obstructive and central sleep apneas include:
- Loud snoring.
- Episodes in which you stop breathing during sleep — which would be reported by another person.
- Gasping for air during sleep.
- Awakening with a dry mouth.
- Morning headache.
- Difficulty staying asleep, known as insomnia.
- Excessive daytime sleepiness, known as hypersomnia.
- Difficulty paying attention while awake.
- Irritability.
When to see a doctor
Loud snoring can indicate a potentially serious problem, but not everyone who has sleep apnea snores. Talk to your health care provider if you have symptoms of sleep apnea. Ask your provider about any sleep problem that leaves you fatigued, sleepy and irritable.
Devices Used to Control Snoring & Sleep Apnea
Two main devices are available for the control of snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea. These devices must be worn every night to control your sleep problem.
CPAP (Continuous Positive Air Pressure) is a device that controls apnoea by providing a stream of air, under slight pressure, through a tube into your nasal passage. This positive air pressure acts as a splint holding the tissues in the back of your throat open to prevent collapse. Use of this device requires a sleep study to determine the proper pressure to use.
Oral Appliances – Oral appliances are devices very much like sports mouth guards or removable orthodontic appliances that hold the airway open by either holding the tongue or jaw in a forward position. Oral appliances are non-invasive and easy to use and as such they may be considered an early treatment option and may be the most appropriate treatment for your condition.
Oral Appliance Therapy for obstructive snoring & sleep apnea
Oral Appliance therapy involves the selection, design, fitting and use of a specially designed oral appliance that, when worn during sleep, maintains an opened, unobstructed airway in the throat. Oral appliances that treat snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea are customised devices made from impressions of the teeth. They are worn in the mouth while sleeping, dilating or enlarging the airway. When successful they have several advantages over other forms of therapy.
About the Beacon Dental Sleep Medicine Clinic
Located in the Beacon Consultants Clinic in Sandyford, our facility collaborates with major hospital sleep disorder clinics and other specialists and have been active in the development and use of oral sleep appliances in the area of Dental Sleep Medicine in Ireland over many years.
We utilise a range of new technologies and treatment approaches. These include the use of customised digitally fabricated oral devices with specific sensor technology use to enable monitoring for ongoing evaluation.
As a result, the clinic has been successful in assisting many patients, and oftentimes also importantly, their sleep disrupted partners, in achieving more optimal and healthy sleep experiences.
Can snoring be cured?
Every heavy snorer does not need treatment however any snorer is a potential obstructive sleep apnea patient. So, if you have loud snoring which disrupts your sleep, causing excessive daytime sleepiness/tiredness, weight gain and inability to engage properly in exercise, uncontrolled hypertension, and frequent arousals at night, you need to see a sleep specialist.
People often do not know where to start. The first step is to get in touch info@beacondentalsleep.ie or call 01 213 5644 to discuss your specific concerns and let us help you solve the problem and regain control of your night-time sleep.
Dental Sleep Medicine is an area of clinical expertise that focuses on the management of sleep-related breathing disorders, including snoring, noisy disturbed sleep, sleep apnea, CPAP intolerance a, nd sleep bruxism (teeth grinding), with the design and fitting of customised ooral/dentalappliances.
Click here to download the Beacon Dental Sleep Patient Brochure
For further information on Sleep Apnoea Treatment, contact us today
