How Do I Stop Snoring?

If you or your loved one is struggling with snoring, you’re not alone. Snoring is a common problem that affects millions worldwide and can disrupt sleep quality. Snoring occurs when the flow of air through the mouth and nose is partially obstructed during sleep. This obstruction can be due to various reasons, such as the anatomy of your mouth, obesity, or even your sleep position. When these obstructions happen, the surrounding tissues vibrate, producing the familiar snoring sound. 

Tips for addressing snoring include:

• Change Your Sleep Position: Sleeping on your side can help prevent the tongue from falling back and blocking the throat, thus reducing snoring. 
• Maintain a Healthy Weight: Excess body weight can contribute to snoring. Even a small amount of weight loss can open up your throat and improve symptoms. 
• Avoid Alcohol and Sedatives: These substances can relax the muscles in your throat and increase the risk of snoring. 
• Establish Good Sleep Hygiene: Maintain a consistent sleep schedule and ensure you get adequate rest each night. When you have deep, quality sleep, the muscles in the throat relax more fully, reducing your risk of snoring.
• Use Assistive Devices: Devices like Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machines can keep airways open during sleep, stopping snoring and treating sleep apnea. 
• Consult a Specialist: If lifestyle changes don’t help, you should consider seeing a sleep apnea specialist. Oral sleep appliances such as custom-made snoreguards are designed to fit comfortably in your mouth and can keep your air passages open. This treatment closely resembles the appearance of orthodontic retainers. 

At Pomerado Cosmetic Dentistry, Dr. Valeri Sacknoff and Dr. Robbi Wilson are experienced at addressing sleep apnea issues and are trained in dental sleep medicine. They both understand how snoring and insufficient sleep quality can negatively affect an individual’s quality of life and are dedicated to helping their patients sleep more comfortably. Dr. Sacknoff and Dr. Wilson can also evaluate concerns such as TMJ Disorder and bruxism, which are often associated with sleeping difficulties. 

To learn more about sleep apnea and treatments to help address snoring, or to schedule a consultation with one of our dentists, please contact our office today.