Ready to Stop Snoring? Here’s What You Need to Know.
Are you tired of the disruptive effects of snoring? Snoring can go beyond being a nightly annoyance; it can significantly impact your sleep quality, relationships, and overall health and well-being. If you, your partner or your children are struggling with the disruptive effects of snoring, rest assured that you are not alone. Snoring affects a significant number of people and should not be dismissed as a mere nuisance. In fact, it can be a potential symptom of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a serious sleep disorder associated with a range of health complications. For Children it is linked to poor jaw and facial development.
Why Do We Snore?
Ever wondered why that familiar hoarse and harsh sound escapes from our throats while we sleep? When we sleep our body relaxes so it can regenerate from the days ’ tolls’. Part of this relaxation is the muscles around our nose and mouth go soft causing our ‘air pipe’ to get smaller. If this pipe (or airway) gets further blocked, then these relaxed muscles and tissues begin to vibrate causing the noise we all know and dread! Factors like poor muscle tone (especially in the tongue), being overweight, and elongated soft palate or uvula all play their roles in creating this distressing predicament. So, the next time you catch yourself or your partner snoring away, you now know what the culprits are!
Snoring is Sabotaging not only your health and wellbeing but your Families
Snoring is actually more than a simple annoyance; it significantly affects the quality of sleep for both the snorer and their partner. Persistent snoring, accompanied by daytime fatigue, may indicate obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). OSA can lead to daytime drowsiness and various health issues, including heart problems, overweight, diabetes and poor memory. Snoring can strain relationships as it disrupts the sleep of both individuals involved. We all can contest to that when we are tired, we can be grumpy! What's even more worrying is if our children snore. Children should not snore at all. If they are this means they are not getting adequate air into their lungs to enhance their growth and development! It's time to take action and restore peaceful healthy nights for everyone.
So what to do?
So, what are your options when it comes to stop snoring? Let’s explore the answers together.
Use a Custom-Made Oral Appliance – MAS
Custom-fitted oral appliances or Mandibular Repositioning Appliances (MAS) are widely recognised as the most effective solution for reducing snoring. These appliances work by enlarging the upper airway during sleep. This addresses’ the root cause of snoring which we have learnt is our airway (airpipe) constriction or obstruction. Their personalised fit ensures maximum comfort and precise repositioning of the lower jaw, soft palate, or tongue. They have been thoroughly researched by the sleep scientific community and been published on in various scientific journals extensively. Endorsements from reputable organisations like the Australian Dental Association and the Australasian Sleep Association further solidify their effectiveness. Compared to other remedies, oral appliances are non-invasive, convenient, and portable, making them the best choice for individuals seeking a fast, efficient and effective treatment for snoring.
What About Over the Counter Methods?
While over-the-counter snoring solutions may promise quick fixes, the reality is that they often fall short in providing any real relief. These generic remedies rarely even provide temporary respite because they lack personalisation and any scientific development. These include nostril enlargers, generic oral appliances, and liquid remedies.
Pay Attention to Sleep Position,
In addition to oral appliances, making certain lifestyle changes can contribute to better sleep and reduced snoring. Sleeping on your side instead of your back can prevent your tongue from obstructing airflow through your throat.
Alcohol Consumption/Smoking and Diet
It's also wise to limit alcohol intake before bedtime. Alcohol relaxes the throat muscles, leading to snoring. Maintaining a healthy diet and weight will also play a role in reducing snoring, as excess tissue and fat in and around the throat can contribute to the air constriction. Stopping smoking will aid in reducing snoring and reduce of OSA.
Surgical and Orthodontic Treatment
Orthodontic and dentofacial orthopaedic treatment can help with decreasing snoring. By changing the position of the teeth (orthodontics) and facial bones (dentofacial orthopaedics’) can increases the size of the front of the airway. This is especially effective treatment in children. Surgical treatment such as repositioning of jaws and opening the nasal airway pipes are also effective methods of decreasing snoring albeit complicated, costly, and invasive.
Additional Tips for Snoring Relief
Additionally, prioritising sufficient sleep each night is crucial, as sleep deprivation can worsen snoring by relaxing the throat muscles too much. Finally, certain medication can decrease the tone in your muscles around your airpipe. These are most commonly antidepressants and sleeping pills. Talking to you Doctor about alternative treatments maybe of use to reduce your snoring.
The Long-Term Effects of Snoring on Your Health
The impact of snoring on sleep quality, coupled with underlying medical conditions, can have severe long-term health implications. Snoring can be a sign of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) a condition in which breathing involuntarily stops for short periods during sleep. Individuals with sleep apnoea could be at an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, and chronic headaches. This is because the sleep cycle is your bodies way of regenerating its organs and muscles from the day’s trials and tribulations. It does this by using the oxygen from the air you breathe. If you are not getting the air at night because of a constrictive airway for long periods of time this is where the trouble can begin.
Furthermore, snoring, even without sleep OSA can cause thickening and abnormalities in the carotid artery, potentially leading to vascular diseases and heart irregularities. Research indicates that the intensity of snoring is related to the risk of carotid atherosclerosis and stroke.
Taking Action
There is now no need to let snoring continue to disrupt your life. You now have a comprehensive understanding of the impact of snoring, not only with your mood and memory but its relationship to obstructive sleep apnoea and poor facial development in children. Now you are aware of the range of treatment options available and what is effective and not so much. Here at The Dentists, our WHY is we firmly believe that your oral health is fundamental for your lifelong well-being. Quality sleep plays a significant role in your long-term health and well-being, and a very effective way of treating it is an Oral appliance. We are here to support you on your journey toward better sleep, improved relationships, and enhanced overall wellness.
