Snoring Solutions
Do you or your partner suffer from breathing difficulties during sleep such as snoring or obstructive sleep apnoea? You will be pleased to know that your local dental practice in Croydon has a snoring solution for you.
Anti snoring devices
It’s now possible to have an anti snoring device, this is a mouthpiece which is fitted by a dentist that will address your snoring problems during preventing the lower jaw from dropping back sleep thereby preventing the closure of your airways, this will stop you from snoring by keeping your airway open.
How to stop snoring
There are a few simple things you can do, particularly with changing your lifestyle to stop snoring. These include:
- Losing weight. If you are overweight the extra pressure on your airway can reverberate causing you to snore.
- Avoiding alcohol. We tend to sleep deeper when we have alcohol, the muscles relax around the throat and the snoring commences.
- Keep your nasal passages open. You can purchase, quite cheaply, nasal strips to keep your airways open.
- Change the position in which you sleep. Most people will snore when lying on their back, sleeping on your side or front can help keep your airway open.
- Change your pillow. Sometimes changing pillow for something a little firmer can help to keep your head back and airway open thereby preventing snoring.
- Wear an anti-snoring device. This can keep your jaw forwards, because the muscles of your jaw and neck are linked this will in turn keep your airway open and stop you snoring.
The causes of snoring
The basic cause of snoring is the muscles around the neck, particularly the tongue relaxing at night. As the muscles relax it is more difficult for the air to pass through the restricted space. If that restricted space becomes too small then the muscles tend to reverberate as the air passes through, this causes the sound known as snoring.
Will losing weight stop snoring
Losing weight may not stop snoring completely as it depends on the cause of the snoring in the first place. However, excessive weight can exacerbate any tendency to snore and so snoring can be reduced significantly by losing weight.
Why snoring occurs
Snoring occurs for a variety of reasons including alcohol, position during sleep as well as age. Think about any situation which could cause the muscles around the head and neck to relax more than normal, this will cause snoring.
snoring occurs in approximately 40% of men but only 30% of women, at any one time approximately 25% of people are habitual snorers. Ref: verywell.com/why-men-snore-2328459 (Site accessed 03-10-17)
Why have I suddenly started snoring
If you have suddenly started snoring the first question to ask is, have you done something today which will exacerbate it? Typically this could be things like becoming dehydrated, changing your sleeping position, changing your pillow or drinking alcohol.
If you’ve done one of those things then this could start you snoring suddenly.
Age and weight also play a large part in snoring and at some point, if these two factors are combined you are far more likely to begin snoring suddenly.
What kind of doctor to see for snoring
In the first instance it would be good to visit your dentist. Dentists can use a snoring appliance which is custom-made to fit over your teeth. This appliance pulls the lower jaw forwards keeping the airway open. If you’re snoring is more severe (possibly sleep apnoea) then your dentist can refer you to sleep specialist.
Cures for snoring
The British Snoring and Sleep Apnoea Association explicitly say that snoring cannot be cured. They do however suggest that snoring can be controlled, but only after the cause has been identified. In the first instance, asking your dentist whether they provide snoring treatments can give the first insight into the causes and cures for snoring.
Wearing a snoring mouthguard
Such a custom-made mouth piece is made from impressions taken of your teeth to ensure they fit you comfortably. Made from a hard wearing plastic, the mouthpiece is worn at night and works by holding the bottom jaw in a slightly forward position. This position opens up your airway significantly allowing you to breathe better and as a result sleep better too.
