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What is snoring?
There are more than 50 million Americans who snore. The loud annoying sounds are caused by a narrowing of the upper airway at the back of the throat due to a decrease in muscle tone while sleeping. While the same amount of air (oxygen) still needs to pass into the lungs, the narrow passage causes the air to pass thru at a greater velocity, which in turn vibrates the excessively floppy and relaxed tissue (uvula and soft palate) lining the back of the throat.
What can we do to reduce or eliminate snoring?
One of the most prevalent reasons for a narrowing of the upper airway is obesity. Fat deposits at the back of the throat and around the outside of the neck both close and compress the airway, ultimately narrowing it. Alcohol and late meals exacerbate the snoring. Of course, it takes a major life style change, to reverse the condition. Excessive soft tissue at the back of the throat, an enlarged tongue (macroglossia) and a dental skeletal discrepancy can also contribute. A person will snore more and/or louder when sleeping on their back. It makes sense that sleeping on your back allows the tongue and associated soft tissue to collapse on the back of the throat further narrowing or completely obstructing the airway (SLEEP APNEA).
What is Sleep Apnea?
This condition is an exacerbation of snoring in which the airway is completely closed for ten seconds or more, preventing any air or oxygen from entering the lungs. This is a much more serious and possibly fatal condition that causes an elevation in blood pressure (hypertension) and a decrease in blood oxygen that may lead to a stroke, heart attack or even death! Your spouse or significant other is indispensable in initially diagnosing sleep apnea so that a professional diagnosis and appropriate treatment can be instituted. Warning signs include: silence along with snoring bouts and intermittent gasping and choking episodes.
Treatment Options for Snoring and Sleep Apnea:
Your dentist should at least make an initial diagnosis and refer you accordingly. In our office, we differentiate between benign snoring and sleep apnea. If apnea is suspected the patient should be referred to a certified sleep lab or center for an overnight sleep test (polysomnography) to determine the extent and severity of the apnea. Then and only then can treatment options be discussed. Options include a nightime air pressure machine, various degrees of surgery and a dental appliance. Most treatments should coincide with a life style alteration. Only a complete exam and test can lead to proper diagnosis to ensure the right treatment option.
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