Is It Snoring or Sleep Apnea?

About 80 million people in North America snore, and approximately 12 million Americans have sleep apnea.  So what is the difference, and why does it matter?

Snoring is caused by the vibration of the soft palate and uvula, which occurs when the airway becomes obstructed during sleep.  There are several factors that may contribute to the obstruction of the airway and cause you to snore including allergies, drinking alcohol before bed, being overweight and having large tonsils or a deviated septum.

If you snore now and then, you probably have nothing to worry about, however, chronic snoring can be a sign of sleep apnea.  This is a more serious sleep disorder and should not be brushed off as unimportant.  People with sleep apnea stop breathing in their sleep - sometimes up to 100 times in an hour - for one minute or longer.  Left untreated, sleep apnea can increase your chances of serious health conditions like high blood pressure and heart disease.  At a minimum, you may feel groggy in the morning or unable to concentrate during the day.

The good news is sleep apnea IS treatable.  The two most common ways to treat sleep apnea are continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy (administered by a physician) and oral appliance therapy (administered by a dentist).  CPAP therapy can be very effective for people with sleep apnea, however, some people find it difficult to sleep with the required mask and the machine can be disruptive to your bed partner's sleep.  More people are turning to the oral appliances administered by their dentist.  Oral appliances are small devices that look like mouthguards.  They increase the airway space and reduce air velocity and snoring by moving the lower jaw into a slightly forward position.  Patients who have tried both say that oral appliances are more comfortable to wear, quieter, easier to care for and very cost-effective.  For more information or to schedule an appointment contact your ENVISION Dental Team @ 231-933-9000.     Snoring or Sleep Apnea