Let’s be honest, snoring at night prevents us from getting a good nights’ sleep. It leaves us exhausted during the day and is also troublesome to the person sleeping next to us, or maybe even in the next room. There is nothing to be ashamed of it as it has a real science behind it. So, why do we snore? Snoring occurs due to ones’ incapability to properly let in the air freely through the nose and throat when the person is asleep. As this happens, it leads to the vibration of the surrounding tissues thus producing the uncomfortable noise. People who snore often have too much throat and nasal tissue or “floppy” tissue that is more prone to vibrate.

What can snoring lead to?

Snoring that is left untreated leads to sleep apnea. A person suffering from this condition will experience repeated interruptions during sleep.  These interruptions may occur quite a few times. It can result in the lack of oxygen supply to the brain and the body.

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What is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is an obstructive sleep disorder that occurs when the airway to the lungs is blocked. Patients develop the sleep disorder as the upper airway path to the lungs tend to get obstructed. The causes of sleep apnea are mainly obesity, the structural difference in the anatomy of the mouth, nasal malfunctions, etc. As the patients develop sleep apnea, they will begin to experience interrupted sleep patterns, preventing them from having a sound sleep at night. Patients would start to feel that they were awake almost throughout the night.

How can we treat Sleep Apnea?

Treatment for Sleep Apnea is done by studying the sleep patterns, eye movements, movement of the muscles, evaluating the heart rate, respiratory conditions and blood oxygen levels at a sleep center. A sleep lab study is done to diagnose the condition and also to determine the severity of the disease.

There are special dental appliances that can help to treat sleep apnea.

Mandibular Advancement Device

The Mandibular Advancement Device, also commonly known as MAD is a dental device used to combat sleep disorders among patients who suffer from mild to extreme cases of sleep apnea. The device works by ensuring to open the airway to the lungs while the person sleeps which otherwise doesn’t in the case of sleep apnea patients.

SomnoMed

This highly efficient product can be used to enhance the results of treating patients who suffer from mild to moderate levels of the sleep disorder. It works by increasing the arch of the upper jaw allowing easy passage of air into the body. It is estimated that 91% of the patients who have used SomnoMed says that they have been experiencing improved and sound sleep.

Request an appointment with Dr. An in San Mateo, CA, and we shall help you combat troublesome sleep, today!