What Snoring Treatments Are Available From a Dentist?

Has your partner told you that you snore a lot when you sleep? Snoring could make it difficult for you or your spouse to get the restful sleep you need at night. At Summit Dental of La Mesa, we can provide you with a snoring solution in La Mesa, California, that could help you improve the quality of your sleep and allow you to feel more rested when you wake up in the morning. Learn more about our snoring treatments below, and call us to schedule an appointment. 

What Causes You To Snore at Night?

Snoring occurs when the air traveling through your nose and mouth becomes turbulent. Typically, the air should flow smoothly from your nose and mouth into your lungs. When you fall asleep at night, the tongue muscles and the muscles with in the back of the throat relax.

If these muscles relax too much, they could cause your airway to become narrow, leading to turbulent airflow from your nose and mouth into your lungs. This turbulent airflow causes your uvula and soft palate to vibrate. Vibrating tissue is what produces the snoring sound. 

What Are the Symptoms of Sleep Apnea?

If your airway collapses or narrows too much, you may stop breathing for 10 seconds or more, and/or your oxygen levels can drop 3 – 4% or more.  If these things happen 5 or more times per hour, it is called sleep apnea. An oral appliance can be used for the initial treatment of mild to moderate sleep apnea. Some of the most common symptoms of sleep apnea include:

• You may wake up in the middle of the night gasping for air.
• You may wake up in the morning with headaches.
• You may have acid reflux.
• You might also feel tired during the day because you did not get to or stay very long in the deeper stages of sleep during the night.

To address this issue, you need to reach out to a sleep specialist or a dentist who can help with evaluation and treatment.  

How Can a Dentist Help You Treat Snoring?

If you schedule an appointment with our dentist, we can customize an appliance to meet your needs. A dental appliance for snoring and sleep apnea fits on to your teeth, protrudes your lower jaw forward and holds it there while you sleep .  It works because your tongue is attached to your lower jaw and by bringing your lower jaw forward, it pulls the tongue away from the back of the airway to open it up.  Also when the jaw comes forward, it activates muscles in the soft palate to pull it away from the back of the airway to open it up.  The appliance should minimize or eliminate your snoring. In addition, keeping your airway open ensures you get enough oxygen at night. This can ensure you get the restful deep sleep you deserve and have enough energy when you wake up the following day.

Contact Summit Dental of La Mesa for Help With Snoring in La Mesa, California

Snoring is one of the most common signs of sleep apnea, which could negatively impact your quality of life. We can help you by customizing a treatment plan to meet your needs at Summit Dental of La Mesa. We are always available to help you address oral health issues, including snoring that could be caused by sleep apnea. If you would like to learn more about how we can help you, call us to schedule an appointment at (619) 494-2492.