If you snore often enough, then your sleeping partner or other loved one might ask you to seek help for it. However, not everyone considers snoring a serious problem, even when other symptoms can warn that it is. For example, if you snore constantly and feel tired faster each day, then you might be experiencing sleep deprivation symptoms as a result of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). At our Virginia Beach, VA, dentist’s office, we can help you determine if you have a sleep disorder, and if you can benefit from a custom sleep appliance to address it.
A glimpse at why you might be snoring
Snoring can occur for different reasons in different people. In many cases, though, it’s the result of a partial obstruction in the airway, which forces breathing through a narrower tunnel. The resulting rise in air pressure causes throat tissues to vibrate loudly – hence, the sound of snoring. This also causes you to work harder for every breath, limiting the amount of oxygen you receive throughout the night.
When snoring is more serious than it seems
If your snoring is more serious than it seems, the airway obstruction that causes you to snore won’t stop until the airway is completely blocked. This condition, known as obstructive sleep apnea, forces you to stop breathing, and before long, causes your body to wake up in panic and clear the airway. You’ll start to breathe again, but your sleep pattern will be interrupted, and this will continue to happen hundreds of times throughout the night.
How this affects your quality of sleep
Repeatedly having to wake up to clear your airway prevents your body from falling into the deep, R.E.M. sleep that it needs to rest and recover properly. In addition to the substantial reduction in oxygen you receive each night, sleep apnea can also cause you to become sleep deprived. Every day, you’ll grow more tired faster due to an inability to rest and recuperate each night.
How to address both snoring and sleep trouble
If you snore chronically or have sleep apnea, then may be able to help you sleep better with a custom-designed appliance. The key to preventing snoring and sleep apnea episodes is to prevent the obstruction caused by oral and throat tissues. A custom-designed appliance accomplishes this by supporting your lower jaw comfortably, keeping your airway open and making it impossible for oral and throat tissues to obstruct it.
Find out your snoring and tiredness are related
If you snore a lot and also feel tired most days, then you may be suffering from obstructive sleep apnea. To learn more, schedule a consultation by calling the Absolute Dental Care office in Virginia Beach, VA, today at (757) 428-7440. We proudly welcome patients from Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, Suffolk, Hampton, Eastern Shore, and all surrounding communities.
