When you visit our practice there are a number of treatments and techniques we can use to help you out with your various dental problems. But did you know that we can also provide solutions to problems with snoring?
Here’s a brief outline of how your dentist in Stevenage can help you out with any pesky snoring problems you might have.
Why do we snore?
Everyone on the planet snores to some degree. Whether it’s a quiet growl or a wall-shaking, thundering rattle that can be heard from space, we all at some point start snoring in our sleep.
Most of the causes of snoring can be fairly natural, it may be the way your tongue is placed in your mouth or the way you’re lying on your bed. But, in a few cases that familiar night time noise session could be caused by underlying health problems, like sleep apnoea, which could potentially have lethal consequences.
What are the risks of snoring?
As we mentioned above, snoring is mostly harmless, but when it could be linked to conditions like sleep apnoea then you run into problems.
Sleep apnoea can occur when the muscles around your neck and airway become relaxed to the point that they collapse and you stop breathing for a few seconds. This occurs frequently throughout your natural sleep cycle and in most cases your body will naturally kick the breathing response back into action, it can often result in you waking up often throughout the night. If you live with a partner this can also affect them as you spring awake or they spend the night worrying about when you’re going to cease breathing next, so it can be quite stressful for everyone.
Most cases of sleep apnoea can go undiagnosed for a long time as the symptoms appear when you’re sleeping. But if it’s left unchecked it can become a risk factor for things like stroke, heart disease, diabetes and much more. That’s why it’s important that you visit your dentist in Stevenage as they can help identify any potential problems from your night time ritual.
At Smilecraft Dental Care our team will help you get back to a normal healthy night time routine in a relaxed and welcoming environment.
How your dentist helps
If you haven’t been scared off yet, here’s how your dentist in Stevenage can help you with those snoring problems.
Normally a set of oral devices or a mouthpiece might be crafted to hold your jaw in a set position that allows the airways to stay open as you rest. Or you may be referred for MAS treatment whereby you have to wear an external mask that continually blasts oxygen to keep your airway open as you sleep. If the problem could potentially be more serious, your dentist can also work in conjunction with your GP to isolate the issue or figure out potential future treatment plans to get you back to a good night’s rest.
If you suffer from snoring problems, then don’t hesitate to get in touch with us to see how we can help you.