Snoring Treatment

in Boulder, Colorado

Snoring – Nothing can ruin your day more than a poor night's sleep. When you or someone near you suffers from loud and disruptive snoring, getting a restful sleep can be difficult or even impossible. Many people think that snoring is just something you have to live with but there are treatment options available to people who snore. Dr. Birnbach's general dentistry office in Boulder, Colorado can help you explore some of these options.

Snoring is caused when the flow of air into the lungs is blocked. The blockage occurs at the back of the mouth where the tongue meets the throat. When your body is asleep these muscles in your mouth and throat relax, sometimes blocking the airway.

A number of factors can increase your risk of snoring:

• Certain sleeping positions
• Obesity
• The natural anatomy of your mouth
• Alcohol
• Sleep apnea

Snoring is disruptive to you and those around you. This disruption is not just an annoyance; it can result in sleeping and health problems. Those who snore often wake up frequently in the middle of the night gasping for breath. This constant waking can prevent you and those around you from entering into a restful sleep. Inadequate sleep can lead to irritability, lack of focus, drowsiness, and other physical and emotional problems.

Snoring is also a major symptom of sleep apnea, a serious medical condition. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a condition marked by loud snoring often followed by periods of silence. This silence is followed by loud gasping as the lack of oxygen signals the body to wake up. This pattern is repeated throughout the night resulting in frequent and disruptive waking.

There are several treatments that Dr. Birnbach may recommend to address your snoring:

• Splints & Mandibular Advancement Devices – These devices resemble athletic mouth guards and are worn while you sleep. Mandibular advancement devices move your lower jaw forward to a position which keeps your airway open. Splints hold the tongue in a position that keeps it from blocking the airway.
  
  
• Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) – Treatment through this method involves wearing a mask over the nose while sleeping. Air is forced through this mask into your airway, keeping it open.