Partner can’t sleep because you snore? Is it finally time to put an end to it? Our team at Felton Dental Care may be able to help! We provide high quality general and cosmetic dentistry in the Missoula, Montana area.
Snoring sounds can develop when the tissue in the back of the throat collapses onto the soft palate. This narrows the air passageway. As you breathe, this area opens and closes—with a noisy result.
Your snoring may be a symptom of a condition called sleep apnea. With Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), the air passageway not only narrows, you actually stop breathing. These pauses can last for up to a minute and repeat hundreds of time per night.
Many people with sleep apnea snore, but not all snorers have sleep apnea. Regular snoring does not generally wake you up during the night (even if it wakes up your bed partner). Here are some questions to consider:
Is My Snoring a Symptom of Sleep Apnea?
- Do you wake up multiple times during the night gasping?
- Are you excessively tired during the day?
- Do you wake up with a headache?
- Do you nod off during the day because you are sleepy?
- Are your mouth and throat noticeably dry when you wake up?
Snoring is more than a pesky annoyance. It can have significant health consequences. Sleep apnea is even more dangerous because it completely cuts off the oxygen flow.
There are three types of sleep apnea:
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea: This is the most prevalent type. It is caused by throat muscles relaxing and blocking the airway.
- Central Sleep Apnea: The cause of the breathing cessation arises in the central nervous system. The brain fails to control the breathing muscles.
- Complex Sleep Apnea Syndrome (Treatment-emergent Central Sleep Apnea): This condition is present when a person has both obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea.
Believe it or not, a dentist can usually work with you to help stop your snoring, whether you have OSA or not. A dentist may provide Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT), which is a custom-made mouthpiece that can keep your airway open throughout the night. We invite you to call us at Felton Dental Care, your premier general and cosmetic dentistry practice in the Missoula, Montana area, to talk about your snoring. We will apply our professional expertise to help bring some relief!
Contact Felton Dental Care – Dr. Brett R. Felton, DMD:
406-728-0896
Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):
1750 Brooks St
Missoula, Montana
59801
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