Snoring is an all-too-common problem. While a bout of snoring here and there probably isn’t a cause for concern, if you snore most nights or deal with loud, disruptive snoring this could be impacting your sleep and your health. This could also be a warning sign of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Fortunately, our Denver, CO, dentist Dr. Steven Wilk is a pro when it comes to treating both snoring and OSA.
Sure, you could be dealing with snoring because you have sinus problems, or it could be a sign of OSA. If so, it can be comforting to know that your very own dentist can also provide you with the care you need to get disordered sleeping under control. Through a thorough evaluation, Dr. Wilk can determine if you’re suffering from obstructive sleep apnea. If you’ve already been diagnosed with OSA by a sleep specialist, you can still turn to our dental team for care.
No matter whether you are simply dealing with snoring or snoring caused by sleep apnea, Dr. Wilk and his Denver team can help. We offer oral appliance therapy to ease your symptoms and to help you get better-quality sleep. We see it all the time! So many chronic snorers also complain of daytime exhaustion, brain fog, and trouble concentrating. Even if your snoring isn’t being caused by sleep apnea, it can still cause you to toss and turn, causing disruptive sleep. This is why snoring should be properly addressed.
Oral appliance therapy allows our patients to take control over the quality of their sleep once more. This oral device rests comfortably over your teeth just like a mouthguard; however, it keeps your tongue in position and shifts the lower jaw forward to keep airways open. As a result, snoring is greatly reduced or even eliminated.
If you find that your sleep apnea-related snoring also gets better when lying on your side or after losing weight, you may also be a great candidate for this custom oral device. Whether your sleep specialist has told you that you could be a good candidate for an oral appliance, or you’re simply interested in how this device might improve your chronic snoring, our sleep dentist Dr. Wilk has undergone extensive and advanced training to be able to provide these OSA and snoring treatment options to his patients here in Denver.
Snoring is noisy breathing that results from an obstruction in the airway. While we sleep, the muscles in the soft palate, tongue, and throat relax and they can sometimes relax too far back into the throat. When this occurs, the throat and airway is narrowed which causes the tissues in the throat to vibrate. These vibrations are what causes your snoring.
Snoring is noisy breathing that results from an obstruction in the airway. While we sleep, the muscles in the soft palate, tongue, and throat relax and they can sometimes relax too far back into the throat. When this occurs, the throat and airway is narrowed which causes the tissues in the throat to vibrate. These vibrations are what causes your snoring.
Yes! Oral health appliance therapy is an effective way to treat snoring. These custom-made oral appliances are similar to a mouthguard and will fit comfortably in your mouth while you sleep, keeping the jaw positioned forward and preventing throat tissues from collapsing.
A diagnosis is the best way to determine the cause of your snoring but symptoms of sleep apnea that you can look out for are breathing pauses while you sleep, restless sleep, fatigue during the day, and headaches in the morning.
Snoring can be prevented with a mouthguard or mandibular repositioning device. This treatment is called oral appliance therapy. These devices position the jaw and tongue forward to prevent the tissues from collapsing into the throat while you sleep.
Snoring is more common in men but anyone can snore.
As we age, the muscles become lax so it is easier for the throat tissue to collapse while you sleep. Weight gain also comes with age and added weight causes added pressure on the throat and airway.
Children can snore and they can be affected by obstructive sleep apnea. Infrequent snoring is not a cause for concern but you should schedule an appointment if your child snores regularly.
Sleeping on your back makes it easier for the tongue and throat muscles to collapse into the airway. If you snore, try sleeping on your side to relieve your symptoms.
Yes. Snoring can also be a sign of sinus problems or enlarged tonsils and adenoids in the throat.