|
Posted on 10/30/2019 by Young Jun DDS MD FACS |
Many people think snoring is an issue all its own. They assume it's just making strange noises while sleeping and that it's something they have to live with. However, that's rarely the case. Snoring isn't an illness, and it doesn't occur without something more serious behind it. Snoring is a symptom, not a condition, and it's not something you have to accept and live with for the rest of your life. Why Do People Snore?The throat and back of the mouth contain a number of muscles and tissue. While you sleep, the mouth relaxes, and this causes the tissue and muscles to actually fall down. Often, this covers the airway partially or completely. If it's a partial blockage, the tissue can vibrate as air passes by it, creating the harsh noise associated with snoring. If it completely blocks the airway, your brain will wake you up enough to move around so that the airway clears. Unfortunately, this also breaks your sleep cycle. Sleep ApneaIf you're waking up multiple times in the night due to a blocked airway, you're dealing with sleep apnea. You likely don't even realize how often you're waking up because you're not becoming fully conscious. However, you'll definitely feel it in the morning. You'll be very tired. The next night, you'll again wake up multiple times. You'll never feel like you've had a good night's sleep, even if you try to sleep for longer periods of time. What to Do About ItThere are a number of oral devices that can help hold all of the tissue and muscles in place. Using one of these devices is easy, and after a few nights, you'll become used to sleeping with it in your mouth. You don't have to deal with snoring or the more dangerous condition behind it. Just give us a call to talk about how we can help you stop snoring. |