Are you or your bed partner one of the 40% of the population who snores?
Simple snoring is the noise resulting from a partial closure of the airway during sleep. As we fall asleep, our muscles relax. For snorers, this causes the lower jaw to drop back and partially obstruct the airway. As a highly common ailment, affecting nearly half of the population, snoring can heavily impact a person’s life. Not only can it lead to a number of side effects for both sufferer and bed partner, it can also be a symptom of something more sinister – obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) – a potentially life-threatening condition.Snoring can result in diminished energy levels, a lack of concentration, increased risk of stress and depression and can affect your libido. Habitual snoring can also result in an increased chance of high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease, especially if Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) is present.Snoring can have a significant impact on your bed partner. Bed partners often report as little as 3 hours’ sleep a night. This can have major health implications.
Do you or your bed partner dream of having a good night’s sleep?
Many people are unaware that dentists play a crucial role in the diagnosis and treatment of snoring & OSA and can provide a number of dental appliances to combat the problem, known as a mandibular advancement splint (MAS). Such snoring devices are designed to prevent the lower jaw from dropping back during relaxation (sleep), in turn keeping the airway open and oxygen saturation high.
Sleepwell is one of the most clinically-proven dental appliances, with studies showing that 97% of patients deem it a suitable treatment option.
The use of MAS, snoring mouth guards, has been clinically proven to have a significant impact on snoring. As part of the screening process, your dentist will ask you to complete a short questionnaire that assesses the quality of your sleep, as well as your level of tiredness in certain scenarios. There is also a section for your bed partner, if you have one, to complete. The results will be used to rule out OSA by determining your risk level. If you are suspected of suffering from OSA, your dentist will refer you on to your GP for further investigation – a non-invasive sleep study, which will accurately measure your sleeping patterns and oxygen saturation levels.
Find Out More
Here at Sunshine Dental, we can help understand your snoring better, suggest lifestyle changes and prescribe a clinically-proven, tailor-made splint.
If you would like to find out more or would like to book an appointment, contact the team today.
