Snore Guards
Seattle, WA
 Snoring is often joked about. For the one snoring, however, it can be quite embarrassing. It can also be rather irritating for the one who has to listen to it night after night. In addition to these issues, snoring can also be indicative of a serious problem. Sleep apnea is a condition that not only causes snoring, it also affects your quality of sleep, leaving you vulnerable to several problems. At Pacific Modern Dentistry, we can help you to stop snoring, and improve your sleep, with a snore guard.
What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a condition that affects the quality of your sleep. When you have sleep apnea, your breathing stops for several seconds. When this happens, a message is sent to your brain that wakes you up, although you are usually unaware that it has happened. This happens several times each night.
When you sleep, your body goes through two cycles, which it repeats several times. Going through these cycles is essential for ensuring that your mind and body can rest and repair. However, when you have sleep apnea, your sleep cycles are interrupted. Every time that you wake up and fall asleep, your body starts the cycles all over again. Sleep apnea ranges in severity from mild to severe. With mild sleep apnea, your breathing pauses 5 to 14 times per sleeping hour. When you have severe sleep apnea, your breathing can stop 30 or more times per sleeping hour. This causes you to wake up multiple times during the course of the night, meaning your body never gets to complete its necessary sleep cycles. As a result, you are left exhausted and unable to function at your best.
What are the Symptoms of Sleep Apnea?
Snoring is one of the most common types of sleep apnea known as obstructive sleep apnea. This type of sleep apnea occurs when your airway becomes blocked by your tongue or other oral tissues. Partial blockage can also cause snoring. Another common cause of sleep apnea is waking up day after day feeling completely exhausted as if you never went to bed in the first place. Other symptoms of sleep apnea include:
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Excessive daytime sleepiness.
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Irritability and difficulty controlling emotions.
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Trouble concentrating.
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Falling asleep in the middle of the day, such as at work or even while driving. |
When sleep apnea goes untreated for a long period, it can also begin to take its toll on your overall health. Sleep apnea can lead to issues such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes.
Diagnosing Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is diagnosed through a sleep study. During a sleep study, you are hooked up to machines that monitor your vitals as well as your muscle movements while you sleep. This can be done in a sleep clinic or at home. The next day, a sleep specialist then reads the results of your sleep study and can diagnose you with sleep apnea or another sleep related issue. They can also prescribe treatment.
Other Issues that Can Lead to Snoring
While sleep apnea is a common cause of snoring, snoring can also be caused by less serious issues as well. Other causes of snoring include:
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Allergies. When you have allergies, the tissues in your sinuses and airway become inflamed, which makes it more difficult to breathe.
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Lifestyle habits such as smoking or excessive alcohol consumption.
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Your sleep position.
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Certain medications.
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Pregnancy. |
How Can a Snore Guard Help?
A snore guard is a specially made oral device that is made to be worn while you sleep. We create your snore guard from impressions that we take of your mouth and high-quality materials. A snore guard looks similar to a sports mouthguard. It is worn over your teeth while you sleep, and functions to hold your lower jaw in proper alignment. By preventing your lower jaw from falling back, your oral tissues are kept from blocking your airway. This helps to keep your airway clear, allowing you to breathe properly. This can help to stop your snoring as well as help you to get the quality sleep that has been seeming to elude you.
If snoring is affecting your sleep, and the sleep of your partner, a snore guard can help. Not only will stop snoring, but you will also finally be able to get quality sleep. For more information, and to find out if a snore guard is right for you, call Pacific Modern Dentistry at (206)284-4505 to schedule your consultation today. |
