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Q: Can a dentist do anything to help with a snoring problem?
A: Yes, your dentist can help with snoring. A snoring problem, by the way, can be more than an annoyance to your bed partner. In a condition called obstructive sleep apnea, a person actually stops breathing for a period of seconds. Breathing resumes with a loud snort or gasp. Nights are restless and a person suffering with this condition is often tired during the day.
Snoring is a normal activity. As you fall asleep, soft tissue at the back of the throat, muscles in the airway, and the tongue, relax. As they relax, the tongue falls back into the airway, narrowing it. As air is drawn through the narrowed opening, the tissue vibrates and creates the noise we call snoring. Conditions including obesity, hypertension and aging can contribute to a snoring problem.
A fairly inexpensive device, custom-fitted by your dentist and inserted in the mouth at night, has been proven effective in helping with excessive snoring and the early stage of obstructive sleep apnea. The appliance fits over the teeth and moves the jaw forward slightly to help keep the airway open during sleep. Talk with your dentist if you or a loved one snores excessively.
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