Dentists can play a role in not only helping patients maintain healthy teeth, but also in preventing issues such as concussions or treating snoring problems by providing customized dental devices. Snoring can also lead to dental problems because it causes dry mouth as the mouth opens during the night.
Dry mouth can lead to dry, cracked lips, sores on the corners of the mouth, an increase of plaque, and gum disease. Fortunately, snoring issues can sometimes be resolved with the help of a dentist.
What Causes Snoring?
While some people snore softly, others snore quite loudly, disturbing their partner’s sleep and sometimes their own. Snoring is most often caused by an airway obstruction which causes the soft palate and uvula to vibrate when it hits the back of the throat. People who snore are often diagnosed with sleep apnea in Fargo ND.
Dental Treatments for Sleep Apnea
A dentist can help treatment sleep apnea, which can cause people to stop breathing for many seconds several times during the night. There is always the fear that people who stop breathing may not be able to restart, so many people with this issue use a special mask to force oxygen through their airways. Fortunately, a dentist with Valley Dental can fit you for an appliance to keep your airways open as you sleep during the night.
Most people who have sleep apnea experience sleep disruptions which can leave them feeling fatigued. Fortunately, the device you’re fitted for can help resolve this issue and help you sleep better and stop snoring, so your partner sleeps better too. Most people often don’t realize the extent of their snoring or sleeping problems without a sleep study. If diagnosed with sleep apnea, they can be fitted with the appliance to help treat it.
