Sleeping Issues

Snoring

Snoring occurs when your airway is obstructed during sleep. Typically, this happens due to the soft tissues colliding in the back of your throat. That collision creates a vibration, snoring. Adults that snore periodically are not alone, estimating that chronic snoring affects 24 percent of women, 40 percent of men, and 10 percent of children. Children might snore due to missing teeth, altering the shape of tissues within their mouth, a contributing factor to blocked airways. Causes of snoring are plentiful, including:

Born with a narrow airway
Low, thick, soft palate, elongated uvula, or large tonsils
Sleeping position
Overweight or obese
Chronic nasal congestion
Alcohol and tobacco use
Pregnancy
Family history

Tiredness or fatigue throughout the day are common consequences of snoring and, when it is quite severe, you might not be receiving sufficient oxygen at night. Feelings of illness or fatigue should be relayed to our office immediately. As you snore, you are breathing with your mouth open, which creates dryness that can generate bad breath, bacteria buildup, tooth decay, infections, and sores.

Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea happens when your upper airway becomes blocked while you sleep. As a result, your diaphragm and chest muscles have to work harder to open your airway and pull air into your lungs. Your breath can become extremely shallow, or briefly stop altogether before you start to breathe again with a loud gasp, snort, or body jerk. This condition can also lower the flow of oxygen to your organs and create uneven heart rhythms. Since there are many other medical conditions that can cause these symptoms, we advise you to speak with us about it at your next appointment.

Warning signs of obstructive sleep apnea include:

Daytime sleepiness or fatigue
Headaches in the morning
Dry mouth or sore throat in the morning
Difficulties concentrating, memory lapses, depression
Restlessness during sleep
Night sweats
Snoring
A low sex drive
Gasping or choking when sleeping
High blood pressure
Waking up several times in the middle of the night to use the bathroom
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

Children have their own specific symptoms:

Choking or drooling
Wetting the bed
Excessive sweating at night
Inward ribcage movements when they breathe out
Issues at school
Learning and behavioral concerns
Sluggishness or sleepiness throughout the day
Snoring
Teeth Grinding
Breathing that pauses or ceases
A restless nature in bed
Abnormal sleeping positions, such as sleeping on their hands and knees, or with their neck noticeably bent back

Anti-Snoring Mouth Pieces

Snoring is the sound that projects from your mouth when you are asleep. This occurs when there is resistance in your airway caused by a flap in the back of your throat. Although many believe that snoring occurs from the nose, it actually begins behind your tongue. This is due to our muscles relaxing during sleep. As we sleep, our airway gets smaller, which causes our throat to vibrate due to a lack of space, which is what makes the snoring sound.

Snoring can occur for more serious reasons though, and one such reason is sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is when your breathing takes multiple breaks during the sleep cycle. If you are suffering from sleep apnea, there is a high chance you snore as well. To stop snoring from occurring, there are snoring devices you can use. A snoring device brings your jaw forward so the tissues in your throat do not vibrate and press against one another. A snoring mouthpiece helps open your airway, which reduces the resistance and relaxes your muscles. The three most popular snoring mouthpieces are the mandibular advancement device (MAD), tongue stabilizing devices, and snoring chin straps.

The mandibular advancement device opens your airway through two pieces that look like retainers. These retainers are attached to ensure your mouth stays open for proper airflow.
A tongue stabilizing device is used to isolate your tongue by bringing it forward and creating a wide gap between your tongue and throat. This helps ease the vibrations that occur when sleeping.
A snoring chin strap is a device that is not used as common due to the discomfort it may cause a patient. This device wraps around your head and keeps your mouth from opening; however, it has not been as effective as its counterparts.

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