Snore & Sleep Apnea Appliances
If you snore — or live with someone who does — you know how disruptive it can be. In addition to problems stemming from sleep deprivation, snoring can contribute to more serious health problems such as increased risk of stroke; diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease.
A few individuals that snore have had success with Breathe Right Nasal Strips or throat sprays but most persistent snorers have not. A more consistently successful remedy is a snore appliance. At Keystone Dentistry, we help people every day solve their snoring problems using snore guards. Small and flexible, snore guards resemble an athletic mouthpiece and have no moving parts, masks, hoses, or batteries. There are no needles, no drugs, and no tools in your mouth. All it takes one simple, painless visit.
When we sleep, our body relaxes. When we are fully relaxed, our lower jaw and tongue fall back, forcing air through a smaller opening. This creates vibrations in the throat known as snoring. The secret of the snore appliance is that it holds the jaw in a forward position while sleeping. This position helps open the airway and keeps the tongue from falling back against the palate and throat. And just like magic, you stop snoring.
Snore appliances are also beneficial when treating most cases of sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is the result of your body’s lack of oxygen because of reduced intake of air, thus resulting in your brain “waking you up” to try and force you to breathe. There are two types of sleep apnea, Central and Obstructive. Central sleep apnea is a neurological disorder and can only be treated with a CPAP machine or surgery.
However, over 85% of cases of sleep apnea are categorized as obstructive sleep apnea. This type of sleep apnea is cause by poor muscle tone or structural issues closing around the airways, which is exactly what the snore guard was designed to help alleviate. While those diagnosed with OSA are still given the option of a CPAP with hoses and plugs, or even surgery on the palate and throat, doesn’t a mouthpiece sound like the best choice? It’s not only cheaper than other options, it is also the least invasive.
So stop the snoring, sleep better, feel more rested after waking, and be good to your body.
Contact us if you or your loved one is lacking a good night’s sleep, and we will tell you how to conveniently end your snoring problems today.