When we snore on a nightly basis, this can impact our relationships and also indicate the presence of a serious disorder known as sleep apnea. This is why instead of ignoring your snoring, we hope you reach out to our team! Our team of helpful local sleep science professionals in Wheaton, IL, can diagnose the factors behind your issue and offer a CPAP alternative for treatment.
The Causes of Snoring
Why do we snore? Essentially, this is because air passages have been partially blocked by the collapse of soft tissues. As you breathe at night, this forces air through these now narrow passages and vibrates soft tissues to create a loud sound. Various factors could increase the risk of this, such as sleeping on your back instead of your side, excessive alcohol consumption before bed, sinus or allergy issues, or even factors like neck circumference or a deviated septum. But for some, this could be linked to a serious sleep disorder that could impact your immune system and overall health.
The Potential Link to Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea means that while you rest, the same air passages we discussed above are completely blocked by the collapse of soft tissues. You stop breathing for a few seconds until the brain registers this and wakes you, but this then interrupts your REM sleep, sometimes hundreds of times a night. You then feel exhausted during the day, have trouble with moodiness or concentration, and could have issues with memory. Over time, this could also strain your immune system and heart health, making you more vulnerable to serious illnesses, including issues like stroke or heart attack. But we can not only help treat the disorder, we can do so with a CPAP alternative that is comfortable and convenient.
Oral Appliance Therapy
An oral appliance is a small device that looks and fits your smile like a mouthguard. We will custom-fit it for your smile to ensure a comfortable treatment. The appliance helps shift your jaw and tongue forward to prevent the collapse of soft tissues, so your airways are open. Without interruptions to your REM sleep, you feel more rested and alert, and your overall health can improve as well. The device can be easily cleaned and stored, is simple to use, and can travel with you too. If you have any questions about how we treat issues like snoring or sleep apnea, or if you have concerns that need attention, then contact our team today to learn more.
Let Wheaton Dental Sleep Center Stop Your Chronic Snoring
We want to help you enjoy a good night’s rest and feel good the next day! To learn more about putting a stop to your sleep disorder with an oral appliance, then give us a call at Wheaton Dental Sleep Center at (630)665-5555.