Does your partner complain that they’re being kept up at night with your snoring? At Lotus Dental Wellness in Edmonton, we answer questions about snoring regularly. If you’re looking for ideas as to what could be causing this condition, there are a few facts to consider:
Is snoring a form of sleep apnea?
Snoring is not generally thought of as sleep apnea unless it causes you to stop breathing for extended periods between breaths. To find out if you have true apnea, your dentist may ask you to wear a monitoring device at night to see how well your sleep cycles are occurring and the time between breaths.
If you’re struggling with sleep apnea in Edmonton, however, having the best dental clinic and the best dentist in Edmonton will not guarantee that you will get the best result unless your dentist is experienced. Having said that, your family dentist in Edmonton is still the best place to start. Simply search “dentist near me” or “dentists accepting new patients West Edmonton” to find a practitioner who can help.
If you are snoring loudly and forcefully, your dentist may suggest trying a dental device to hold the tissues away from the airway. Alternatively, a continuous pressure device (CPAP machine). These machines require that you wear a nose piece or mask while you sleep. By blowing air into the nose continuously, you impede any tissue from getting in the way.
Whether snoring is or isn’t apnea, snoring can interrupt the sleep of yourself and others leading to chronic exhaustion over time. If you’re concerned about your snoring, you might ask your dentist in West Edmonton about it at your next dental checkup or book an appointment to be seen sooner.
What causes snoring?
Allergies
If you suffer from seasonal or environmental allergies, your nasal tissues could be inflamed. When you lay down at night, any mucus that is produced in your nasal cavity will settle in a different position. This can create a blockage of one or both nasal passages and make it more difficult to draw enough air with each breath. To combat this, your body will open your mouth while you sleep to allow additional air to be drawn more easily. With air being drawn through the nose and the mouth at the same time, tissues begin to rattle which can cause snoring.
Deviated Septum
The septum is the cartilage tissue that separates the left and right nostril. Ideally, it divides your airway equally. Some septums, however, are smaller on one side than the other. This can cause snoring as your mouth opens while sleeping to allow more airflow. If you have previously broken your nose, your cartilage may be damaged and block air flow.
Tissue Drooping
When we sleep, the muscles of our body relax. As these muscles relax, any tissue that was being held taught by these muscles will droop – this is the case with muscles in the face and neck, also. With looser tissues, laying horizontally will allow the tissues in the throat to hang over your airway. When you draw breath, these tissues can impede airflow, resulting in rattling tissues when you push air past them.
Inflamed Tonsils
When you have an illness, tonsils will often become enlarged as they fight bacteria. Since the tonsils are positioned at the back of the throat, they can block air flow and lead to snoring.
Turbinates and Adenoids
Similar to tonsils, these are positioned near the back of the mouth. Any significant swelling to these tissues is likely to cause snoring.
Drinking
When we drink alcohol, the relaxation that occurs when we sleep is supercharged. We are put into a super relaxed state where tissues in the mouth and throat are looser than normal. The result? A snore fest.
Obesity
People who carry additional weight will carry it around the neck and face, too. When this person lays down, gravity causes the additional tissue weight to be put onto the throat, causing snoring.
Where can I find snoring treatment in Edmonton?
If you’re concerned about your snoring, find a family dentist in West Edmonton, like Lotus Dental Wellness, to help. Our dental clinic in West Edmonton is ready to help you get your sleep back on track. If a dentist in westside Edmonton is too far from you, try another dentist in Edmonton who deals with snoring and sleep apnea.
Before seeing your dentist about your snoring, it is helpful to document how you feel in the mornings. Note headaches, muscle pain, tiredness and dry throat if they are occurring. This can help facilitate a discussion with your dentist about your experience and how it is affecting your daily life. Sleep quality directly affects your health and functioning – and we want to support you in the maintenance of your wellbeing with restful, restorative sleep.