Over time, the types of techniques and treatments available from your dentist have multiplied, improved and refined. There is a plethora of procedures to help you with a number of issues, from broken teeth to gap filled smiles, but did you know that you can also get help with snoring from your dental practice?

Here’s a brief rundown of how a dentist in Sydney CBD, like Spa Dental Sydney CBD, as an example, can help you out with some of those pesky snoring troubles.

What causes snoring?

Now the majority of us snore, some worse than others. But in some cases those night-time nasal growls can hint at underlying health problems, as well as cause a restless night’s sleep for your bed partner. The most common reasons that people snore can range from clogged airways because of allergies, being overweight, a soft palette or poor muscle tone in the nose and throat. Although, in some cases, snoring can be a sign that you’re suffering from sleep apnoea.

What are the risks of sleep apnoea?

Sleep apnoea occurs in most people when the muscles around your neck and airway become relaxed enough that they collapse and block your airway for a few seconds. This can happen repeatedly throughout the night and although your body usually kicks in the breathing response to prevent it becoming fatal, it’s still a scary moment to experience for your bed partner and it can lead to a restless night.

This condition can also be a risk factor for more serious health conditions like diabetes, strokes and heart disease to name a few. Most cases of sleep apnoea can go undiagnosed for a long time, as it’s hard to spot the symptoms since they manifest when you’re asleep. But that’s where your dentist can come in.

How a dentist can help

Where your dentist helps is they can aid in the diagnosis of sleep apnoea or other snoring problems. They may recommend you wear a corrective oral appliance to keep your jaw in its forward position to help keep your airway open whilst you rest. For more serious cases where apnoea is involved, they could work in tandem with your GP for a medicinal counter or offer a reference to a treatment clinic for sleeping conditions.

Treatment options

Depending on the source of the snoring your dentist may recommend a number of different treatments.

For example, they may recommend losing weight, changing your diet, sleeping in a different position, changing your bedtime routine or diet changes, such as no more coffee before you sleep. In more serious cases they might offer MAS treatment, where you wear an external mask that holds your jaw in the correct position.

Hopefully this helpful guide has cleared up a few things about how your dentist can help you out with your snoring problems. If you think you may have issues with snoring or are worried there may be underlying health issues, then contact your local practice to see what they can do.

Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.