Snoring

Why You Should Take Snoring Seriously

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Categories: Dental Health, Sleep apnea, Snoring

Snoring isn’t just an annoyance. It can have major health consequences. At Boulder County Smiles in Lafayette CO, we can treat sleep problems like snoring.

What is Snoring?

Snoring is caused by an an airway obstruction in the throat or nasal cavity. The obstruction can be caused by:

  • Poor muscle tone in the throat and tongue—when muscles relax they can collapse onto the airway. Alcohol use and sleeping pills can make this more likely
  • Thick throat tissue—Excess weight can be a contributing factor
  • Swollen tonsils and adenoids—Most common in children
  • Long uvula or soft palate
  • Nasal congestion
  • Deviated septum

People who snore may have a condition called sleep apnea—a serious health condition in which your breathing stops as you sleep. This can occur over and over through the night.

If your snoring keeps your bed partner from sleeping, his or her health is also impacted. Failure to get enough restorative slumber contributes to a host of physical and mental conditions.

Most of us have experienced difficulty concentrating when we haven’t had enough sleep. Did you know that can limit a person’s motor function and reaction time as seriously as intoxication?

Relief Is Here

So why is a message about snoring and sleep deprivation in a dental blog? We understand the connection between oral health and the rest of the body. At every checkup, we not only check your teeth and gums, we examine your glands, tongue, and throat for signs of oral cancer or other illnesses or disorders.

Whether it’s snoring or apnea, sleep problems can have a serious, negative impact on your life. At Boulder County Smiles in Lafayette CO we treat sleep apnea. Other services include dental implants. Schedule an appointment with us today.

Contact Boulder County Smiles:

720-862-3630

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

1140 W South Boulder Rd Ste 201
Lafayette, Colorado
80026

 

ArticleID 7731

How Is Snoring Different From Sleep Apnea?

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Categories: Sleep apnea, Snoring

sleep apnea dentist Lafayette

It’s estimated that half of us snore at some point during our lives. That can be a serious nuisance for  those nearby. It may also be a sign of a serious disorder called sleep apnea, which is treatable at Boulder County Smiles in Lafayette CO.

Snoring and sleep apnea are often related. Many people who snore also have sleep apnea. However, the conditions are not one and the same.

Why Is Sleep Apnea So Dangerous?

People with sleep apnea actually stop breathing. This can happen many times during the night. This cuts off air supply to the brain. When the brain is starved of oxygen serious problems can occur.

Patients with sleep apnea are at risk for heart problems including high blood pressure, heart attacks, and strokes. They are also at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

One of the most common symptoms is daytime fatigue. This makes ordinary activities overwhelming. Untreated sleep apnea lowers the quality of life.

The problems are not limited to the person with the disorder. Their bed partner is also deprived of restorative sleep and, as such, is at risk of health complications.

How do you know if you have sleep apnea?

If you suffer from daytime sleepiness, or your partner says you stop breathing temporarily during sleep, see your doctor right away. If you want to start out with a specialist, ask your primary doctor for a recommendation. In the U.S., the American Board of Sleep Medicine certifies physicians who treat sleep disorders.

Your doctor will diagnose whether you have sleep apnea and which of the three types you have. This may require a visit to a sleep disorder clinic.

If you are diagnosed with sleep apnea, make sure you research all treatment options.

Sleep apnea can be treated with an oral appliance, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), or surgery.

Sleep apnea treatment is available at Boulder County Smiles in Lafayette CO. We also offer dental implants, and a full range of other services. Schedule an appointment with us today!

Contact Boulder County Smiles:

720-862-3630

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

1140 W South Boulder Rd Ste 201
Lafayette, Colorado
80026

 

ArticleID 7748

Can My Dentist Help Stop My Snoring?

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Categories: cosmetic dentistry, Family dentistry, general dentistry, Sleep apnea, Snoring

snoring dental treatment Lafayette

Partner can’t sleep because you snore? Is it finally time to do away with it? At Boulder County Smiles in Lafayette CO, we can help.

Snoring sounds can develop when the tissue in the back of the throat collapses onto the soft palate. This narrows the air passageway. As you breathe, this area opens and closes—with a noisy result.

Your snoring may be a symptom of a condition called sleep apnea. With Obstructive Sleep Apnea, the air passageway not only narrows, you actually stop breathing. These pauses can last for up to a minute and occur dozens or even hundreds of time per night.

Many people with sleep apnea snore, but not all snorers have sleep apnea. Regular snoring does not generally wake you up during the night. (Though it may wake your partner up again and again.)

Is My Snoring a Symptom of Sleep Apnea?

  • Do you wake up multiple times during the night gasping?
  • Are you excessively tired during the day?
  • Do you wake up with a headache?
  • Do you nod off during the day because you are sleepy?
  • Are your mouth and throat noticeably dry when you wake up?

Snoring is more than a pesky annoyance, but you are not without options. Contact Boulder County Smiles in Lafayette CO. We also provide general and family dentistry.

Contact Gordon West DDS – Aesthetic & General Dentistry:

720-862-3630

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

1140 W South Boulder Rd Ste 201
Lafayette, Colorado
80026