Sleep Apnea / Snoring Problems
Calgary, Alberta
Snore Guard
Most people only know second hand whether they snore or not. Snoring problems are not only an annoyance to your spouse, but it can also lead to health problems. Some people snore so loudly, the entire household is affected. You might not think of asking Dr. Gordon Chee about solutions to snoring, but he can fit you with a simple mouthpiece called a snore guard, which will restore peace and quiet for the entire household.
Causes of Snoring
Snoring results from air passing through the tissues of your throat and pharynx, causing them to vibrate. As you age, these tissues sag more and slightly obstruct the airway, elevating the volume. There are three main causes of snoring:
- Saggy pharyngeal tissue
- Enlarged uvula
- Excess weight
Sleep apnea is a serious condition related to snoring. It means absence of breath and can be fatal if not properly diagnosed and treated. Seeing Dr. Chee, your dentist, for snoring treatment is your first step to ruling out this deadly condition.
Effects of Snoring
Snoring not only affects those around you, keeping them awake, it affects you as well. Each time you snore, it interrupts deep sleep that is required for recuperation each night, even if it does not wake you completely. In the morning, you may end up feeling more tired than when you went to bed. Some of the health problems exacerbated by snoring include:
- High blood pressure
- Insomnia
- Fatigue
- Heart disease
When your airway is obstructed, even slightly, your heart has to work that much harder to oxygenate your brain and other vital tissues.
Treating Snoring with Snore Guard
Positioning of the head and neck greatly affect snoring potential. When you lay on your back, you are more prone to snoring than when laying on your side or stomach. To treat snoring, Dr. Chee will fit you with a custom mouth guard that helps keep your airway open. The mouth guard is prepared and fitted right in the office using the following steps:
- The guard is sized for your mouth and placed in a cup of hot water
- When transparent, the guard is removed and cooled for approximately 30 seconds
- The guard is fitted to the upper teeth to mold it
- You bite down on the guard in a normal, or slightly protruding manner
- The guard cools and dries for another 30 minutes and removed
You wear the guard at night and it helps you keep your pharyngeal passages open. Just this small change helps open the airway enough to give you, and your sleeping partner a comfortable and silent night's sleep.
To find out more about how you can treat snoring problems, or your spouse’s snoring, please contact Dr. Gordon Chee at Aesthetic Dental Studio in Calgary, Alberta today. Let our sleep clinic offer you treatment for you sleep apnea and help alleviate symptoms!
