How can our dentist help relieve your snoring? A basic guide by Spa Dental Sydney CBD

When most people hear the term ‘sleep dentistry’ many assume it is an area that involves techniques like sedation and anaesthetic to help manage anxiety.

Ten points for logic, but no. Sleep dentistry is a growing area of dental work that involves examining problems with sleep, that may be caused by a dental issue. One of the most common areas explored is snoring.

It may seem odd to approach a dentist in relation to snoring, but in recent years there is more that a dentist can offer to help you, and your partner, get a good night’s sleep with ease.

At Spa Dental in Sydney CBD, our dentists help patients who have issues with snoring and sleep apnoea every day and can offer many different forms of treatment to alleviate symptoms. While the reasons for snoring may not be easily forthcoming, our team will work with you to help you explore potential causes, while suggesting practical and painless solutions.

So, how can our team in Spa Dental in Sydney CBD help improve those all-important 40 winks? Read on to find out!

What is snoring?

Snoring, rather than being an illness itself, is actually a symptom.

As we sleep, our soft tissues in the back of our mouths move backward, causing a temporary obstruction of the airway. Similarly, snoring may be caused by the lower jaw muscles relaxing and allowing the lower jaw to obstruct the airway.

This results in breathing that has an added vibration (snoring), which can not only be a nuisance to anyone you share a bed with, but can also impact on the quality of sleep.

Lifestyle advice

When you come to our team at Spa Dental in Sydney CBD to look for the cause of your snoring, we will start by taking a history of your medication and ask questions about your lifestyle. While undertaking this with us, we advise that you approach your doctor, to receive a more rounded clinical approach.

Smoking, drinking and even consumption of certain foods can worsen snoring but, if you are prescribed medications like sedatives to help you sleep, you will need to talk to your doctor about switching to an alternative.

Sleep studies

One thing that our dentists can offer you is a sleep study.

This will require referring you to your nearest hospital for overnight sleep, but it will probably shed some light on how much your snoring is impacting your sleep cycle. It can also be useful in identifying the underlying cause.

Mouthguards and CPAP machines

Once you have completed your sleep study and we have a better idea of what is causing you to snore, we can offer you targeted help.

If you have mild to moderate sleep apnoea, we will offer you a custom-fitted mouthguard to wear to bed. This will prevent the lower jaw from moving backward and will keep all your soft tissues in place too.

More severe situations will require a constant positive airway pressure, or CPAP machine, to keep your airway open.

Disclaimer

All dental treatments carry potential risks. This article is not a substitute for a check-up with your dental practitioner.