Can Dental Appliance Stop Snoring?

As anyone who has shared a bed with another person can tell you, snoring is very disruptive to their sleep and can keep them up all night. While it is usually the partner of someone who snores complaining about the snorer, snoring can also have serious health consequences for the person doing the snoring. Finding the root cause of the snoring will help to determine the best course of treatment so everyone can enjoy a peaceful night’s sleep. Snoring originates in the back of the airway, with the sound coming from the throat due to the vibration of tissues.

There are many medical devices available to help minimize and eliminate snoring in affected people. Before trying one, it is important for people who snore to get evaluated by a doctor to get a proper diagnosis for the cause of the snoring. Obstructive sleep apnea is a common cause of snoring and can be diagnosed or ruled out through participation in a sleep study with a certified sleep specialist. There are specific devices that can be used to stop snoring for someone suffering from sleep apnea, and different devices for people without.

There are many different causes of snoring, which is classified as a serious medical condition. One of the main causes of snoring is obstructive sleep apnea, however, a lot of people without sleep apnea also snore. A CPAP machine has been proven to help patients with obstructive sleep apnea to stop snoring and get a better night’s sleep. A CPAP machine is used on patients who suffer from sleep apnea as a means to keep the throat and airways open, therefore reducing and even eliminating snoring.

For people without sleep apnea, but also snore, a CPAP machine can potentially be dangerous to use, and those people should work with their doctor to find an alternative method to reduce or stop their snoring. The use of a CPAP machine should be done only at the recommendation of a doctor after a sleep apnea diagnosis has been confirmed, typically following participation in a sleep study.

There are dental appliances available at the recommendation of your doctor or dentist that can be used when a person sleeps to reduce or eliminate their snoring. The appliance works by supporting the jaw to keep it in a forward position that helps maintain the upper airway in an open state to reduce the vibrations that cause snoring. Dental appliances can be used for snorers who have been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea and those who don’t have the condition.

This type of dental appliance is made out of plastic that is custom molded to fit your mouth, looking similar to a mouthguard that athletes use during participation in sports. It is inserted, much like an orthodontic retainer or mouthguard, at night to be worn while the patient sleeps. By keeping the breathing passages open through the night, it will reduce and potentially eliminate the wearer from snoring. It is most successful in people with mild to moderate sleep apnea, or people without sleep apnea who snore during the night.

People who snore have typically done so for most of their adult life. Working with a doctor who is trained and knowledgeable in conditions that cause snoring will ensure you get a proper diagnosis for the cause of your snoring, as well as the right treatment plan to help reduce or eliminate your snoring. In some cases, lifestyle changes such as stress reduction, weight loss, and changes to your diet can reduce your snoring. In other cases, treatment using an oral device can provide a better night’s sleep by reducing snoring.

These devices don’t last forever and will need to be replaced typically every couple of years due to wear and tear. If you snore, or if you are always waking up tired and feeling like you can’t catch up on your sleep, it is time to reach out to the Koala® Center For Sleep & TMJ Disorders. Our trained sleep experts can provide a proper evaluation to determine what is causing you to snore, in order to get you the right treatment.