What Causes Snoring and Sleep Apnea?
Snoring is a common symptom of sleep apnea, a serious sleep disorder where your airway becomes partially or fully blocked during sleep. The cause of snoring is simple to understand. During the day, gravity and muscle activity help keep your airway open, allowing air to flow freely and silently. However, when you lie down at night, your muscles relax, and gravity can cause your airway to narrow. This narrowing leads to turbulent airflow, which causes the vibration of your throat tissues — resulting in the sound of snoring.
In some cases, the airway can become completely blocked during sleep, leading to sleep apnea. This condition can significantly impact your health, increasing the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes. However, with comprehensive dental care in Columbia, SC, solutions are available to address the root cause of snoring and improve your sleep quality. Sleep apnea dentistry offers treatments that can help prevent airway obstruction, including oral appliances, which are a non-invasive alternative to CPAP therapy. Additionally, sedation dentistry can be utilized for patients who experience anxiety about their treatments, ensuring a comfortable and stress-free experience during their care.
Snoring Treatment
Effective snoring treatment involves understanding the cause of snoring and using the right solutions. At Smile Columbia Dentistry, we are experts in treating sleep apnea dentistry, using custom oral appliances designed to help keep your airway open. These devices work by repositioning your jaw, reducing turbulent airflow, and promoting better airflow through the throat, which leads to less audible snoring and a better night’s sleep for everyone. For patients who experience anxiety or fear about dental visits, sedation dentistry options are available to ensure a comfortable and stress-free experience throughout the treatment process.
Complementary Lifestyle Changes for Better Sleep
Along with oral appliances, we may recommend lifestyle changes that enhance your snoring treatment and improve your overall dental wellness. Here are some things you can try at home:
- Treat allergies and asthma to improve breathing.
- Lose weight through diet and exercise.
- Sleep on your side instead of your back.
- Avoid alcohol and sedatives, especially before bed, as they can relax throat muscles.
- Use strips to improve nasal airflow.
These lifestyle adjustments can improve the effectiveness of your snoring treatment and lead to better sleep and overall health.
Why Professional Treatment is Essential
While mail-order mouthpieces may seem like an easy solution, professional sleep apnea care is key to achieving lasting and effective results. Dr. Adam Hahn, a member of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine, is an expert in diagnosing and treating snoring and sleep apnea through custom oral appliances. For patients who experience anxiety about dental visits, sedation dentistry can ensure a relaxed and comfortable treatment experience. By visiting a comprehensive sleep apnea dentist in Columbia, SC, you ensure that your treatment plan is tailored to your needs and addresses any underlying sleep disorders, like sleep apnea.
Schedule Your Consultation Today
If you’re in the Columbia area and tired of snoring, Smile Columbia Dentistry offers personalized snoring and sleep apnea treatments. Call us today at (803) 781-9090 to discover how we can help you achieve restful, healthy sleep through dental sleep medicine. Don’t let snoring or sleep apnea impact your life — let us help you sleep better tonight.
