The Stow Dental Group Blog

Snoring is a common occurrence and many people snore occasionally with no ill effects. However, a long-term snoring habit can be harmful to one's general health.

The sound of snoring is caused by air vibrating some of the soft tissue at the back of the throat. When we relax in sleep, the tongue and other muscles in the throat can fall back against the airway and partly block it. This is especially liable to happen if you sleep on your back, in the supine position. Typically, a person snores more often and more loudly in that position than when lying in a side position.

The snoring sound can disturb your sleep and perhaps that of your sleeping partner or others nearby. That can be a minor annoyance or an ongoing source of friction in the household.

Possible Sleep Apnea
Habitual snoring can be a symptom of sleep apnea - a health-threatening condition where you stop breathing until the body wakes you to gulp for air. Then you fall asleep again and repeat this cycle perhaps hundreds of time each night. Sleep apnea deprives the body of sleep and of oxygen, both of which losses cause daytime symptoms such as fatigue, wandering attention, and headaches. The lack of oxygen also increases your risk of a heart attack or stroke.

Whether or not your snoring is a symptom of sleep apnea, it can be treated with a snoring appliance for a better night's sleep. These devices are custom-made to fit over your teeth and hold the lower jaw slightly forward. Their formal name is Mandibular Advancement Splint (MAS). One of the most popular is the SomnoMed® MAS but there are many others.

They have somewhat different designs, some allowing you to drink or to talk while you are wearing them while others are a bit more restrictive. Your dentist can discuss the choices with you and determine which one would fit most comfortably and be most effective in preventing your snoring.

To learn more, please contact Stow Dental Group for a personal consultation. We serve the Stow and Akron/Canton areas in Ohio and we look forward to meeting with you soon.