Estimates suggest that as many as 90 million people in the United States keep themselves or their sleep partners awake with snoring. In fact, about 45 percent of men and 30 percent of women snore regularly. The rough, vibrating sound made during sleep, snoring is caused by an open mouth and relaxed soft palate.
Illness, alcohol consumption, weight gain, sleep positions, and certain medications can contribute to temporary bouts of snoring. Often, snoring is a sign of obstructive sleep apnea, a serious medical condition that causes episodes of lapsed breathing during sleep. For this reason, individuals who snore on a regular basis should have a medical evaluation to check for any underlying issues.
Though snoring may seem harmless, it can create issues for the individual as well as family members. Snoring may disrupt the sleep of other family members, resulting in overall tiredness for others as well as the snorer. When you don’t get enough sleep, you can become prone to illness, have trouble concentrating, and feel fatigued.
To help stop snoring, your dentist can fit you with a special oral appliance. Studies have shown that these appliances have cut down on snoring in up to 70 percent of cases. These devices help hold the jaw in the proper position, which keeps the airways open during sleep. Your dentist will take impressions of your mouth so that a dental lab can create your custom appliance. For the best results, wear the device every night.
