sleep & snoring
Snoring is the sound of obstructed
breathing during sleep. While snoring may be harmless (benign snoring),
it can also be the sign of a more serious medical condition known as
obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
When you breathe normally, air passes through the nose and past the flexible
structures in the back of the throat such as the soft palate, uvula and tongue.
While you are awake, muscles hold the airway open. When you fall asleep, these
muscles relax, but, normally, the airway stays open. Snoring occurs when the
structures in the throat are large and when the muscles relax enough to cause
the airway to narrow and partially
obstruct the flow of air. As air tries to pass through these obstructions, the
throat structures vibrate causing the sound we know as
snoring.
When obstructive sleep apnea occurs, the tongue is sucked against the back of
the throat. This blocks the upper airway, causing air flow to stop. When the
oxygen level in the brain becomes low enough the sleeper partially awakens, the
obstruction in the throat clears, and the flow of air starts again - usually
with a loud gasp. People with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) have disrupted sleep,
and low blood oxygen levels.
OSA has been associated with high blood pressure, cardiovascular problems and
excessive daytime sleepiness.
Snoring not only affects the health and well-being of the person snoring but
also the health and well-being of his or her bed partner leading to marital difficulties.
At DentaSpa Holistic Dentistry
we are concerned with your health and can provide, in consultation
with your physician, a non-invasive and reversible treatment for snoring
with oral appliances. Oral appliances that treat snoring are devices
worn in the mouth, similar to orthodontic retainers or sports mouthguards.
They are comfortable and easy to wear and care for, small and convenient,
making them easy to carry with you when you travel.
Oral appliance therapy is becoming recognized by the medical community as an
effective treatment option in the management of sleep breathing disorders such
as snoring.
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