Depending on how often and how loudly you snore, it may not seem like a big deal, especially if you stop snoring as soon as you roll over to your side. For many patients, though, snoring occurs more frequently than they may realize, no matter what they position they sleep in. For chronic snorers, the constant noise could eventually have a significant impact on your overall health. It may even indicate a more serious problem, such as obstructive sleep apnea, that should be addressed as soon as possible.
Why Snoring Is Concerning
- You might not wake up hurting or suffering in any way after a night of snoring, but that doesn’t mean it’s completely benign. The sound of snoring means that your airway is getting clogged. The noise is that of your throat’s walls vibrating loudly due to stronger air pressure when you breathe.
- When your airway becomes obstructed, your body has to fight harder to breathe, yet it receives less oxygen from each breath. When it occurs only occasionally, this may not have a lasting effect on your health. Chronically, however, it can exhaust your cardiovascular system and increase your risks of related diseases, including heart disease.
- While the partial obstruction that typically causes snoring is troublesome, it’s even more so if your snoring indicates obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Sleep apnea occurs when your oral and throat tissues completely block your airway, making it impossible to breathe for several moments.
Ask Your Dentist How to Stop Snoring
With a little help and the right custom appliance from your dentist, you can finally stop snoring and get the restful sleep you need. To learn more, schedule an appointment by calling the Sunny Smiles dental office nearest you in El Paso, TX, today! We have offices in the East, Northeast, and Westside of El Paso, and happily welcome patients from all nearby communities, including Chaparral, Canutillo, Vinton, and Sunland Park, New Mexico.