What Does Your Dentist Have to Do With Your Snoring?

Do you snore? If you’re not sure, we’d normally suggest that you ask your sleeping partner. But if you do, that might be a bit of a sore point. Let’s stick with the statistics. The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine reports that approximately 45% of adults snore at least occasionally, and 25% snore regularly to the point that snoring affects their sleeping partner’s sleep. So the odds are good that if you don’t happen to snore, your partner does. 

Snoring may be more than a nuisance

What is snoring anyway? Snoring occurs when the muscles in your soft palate (the back and roof of your mouth where it meets your throat), throat and tongue relax. The snoring sound itself is the result of the soft tissues in your throat vibrating as air flows through your throat while you sleep. Snoring is more common in men than women and is more common in people who are overweight, smoke, sleep on their back, consume too much alcohol, use sedatives or are congested.

Snoring can be more than a nuisance and a sign of a serious medical condition called sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a condition when you actually stop breathing multiple times throughout a night while you sleep. Sleep apnea can cause or exacerbate conditions ranging from daytime fatigue, high blood pressure, heart problems, Type 2 diabetes and even liver issues.

What can you do about snoring?

Your dentist in Legacy can help you to overcome your snoring issues by providing you with a snore guard — an oral appliance that positions your jaw and tongue in the optimum position to keep air flow moving properly without causing the tissue vibrations that characterize snoring and interfere with your partner’s sleep. There are a wide variety of available snore guards — over-the-counter options and customized options available from a dentist near you. If a snore guard may not be the right form of treatment for your needs, your dentist and their staff will refer you to and support you while you pursue effective snoring treatment near you.

Do not settle for a one-size-fits-all (if anyone at all) off-the-shelf snore guard to protect your relationship, sleep and health. Ask your dentist in Legacy to recommend and provide a custom snore guard to meet your specific needs in a way that takes your anatomy and needs in mind. Your dentist will tell you about your options and how to choose between them. Here are the factors to consider when choosing the right snore guard.

Can the snore guard be adjusted?

Boil-in-the bag guards that you might purchase online or from sporting goods and drugstores are molded to your teeth at home, but are then effectively frozen in place. Custom-fit snore guards from a dentist near you are crafted to fit your teeth precisely and can be adjusted to continue to fit and work properly as the shape and size of your mouth and jaw changes. 

How long will it last?

A snore guard provided by a dentist near you will have a much longer lifespan than an over-the-counter DIY option made from less durable materials that you may outgrow or might stop fitting or working properly as the shape of your mouth changes. 

How much will it cost?

If you want to spend as few dollars as possible, a boil-and-bite guard is the option that will help you to achieve that goal. If you want the best value and bang for your buck, though, purchase a guard from a dentist who will examine the condition of your teeth, gums and jaw to provide a medically-appropriate device made from the most durable materials that can be adjusted to be an effective contributor to your ongoing health for the longest period of time. Sometimes you get what you pay for. This is one of those times, and a time when a smart investment may pay off when it comes to your sleep, relationship and health.

When you’re ready to make an investment in your sleep, relationship and health, reach out to a dentist near you and ask them to provide you with the ideal snore guard or to recommend other options for snoring treatment in Legacy.