Snoring Solutions: When It’s Time to See Your Dentist

For many, snoring is just an occasional inconvenience—perhaps it disrupts a partner’s sleep or prompts a nudge to roll over. However, persistent or loud snoring could be a sign of something more serious: obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). What many people don’t realise is that their dentist could play a key role in screening and managing this condition.

Here’s what you need to know about when snoring becomes a concern and how a dentist can help you reclaim peaceful, healthier nights.

Why Do People Snore?

Snoring happens when air flows through a partially blocked airway, causing the soft tissues in the throat to vibrate. Common causes of snoring include:

· Relaxed throat muscles during deep sleep.

· Nasal congestion from allergies or colds.

· Obesity, which can narrow the airway.

· Alcohol consumption or sedatives, which relax throat muscles.

Occasional snoring isn’t usually a problem. But when snoring is chronic or loud, it may indicate a more serious condition: obstructive sleep apnoea.

What Is Obstructive Sleep Apnoea?

Obstructive sleep apnoea is a sleep disorder where the airway becomes repeatedly blocked during sleep, leading to pauses in breathing. These pauses can last from a few seconds to over a minute, interrupting your sleep and reducing oxygen levels in your body.

Symptoms of Sleep Apnoea:

· Loud, chronic snoring.

· Gasping, choking, or snorting sounds during sleep.

· Daytime fatigue and difficulty concentrating.

· Morning headaches or dry mouth.

Left untreated, OSA may lead to serious health complications, including high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes.

When It’s Time to See Your Dentist

If you suspect that snoring is more than an occasional issue, your dentist could be your first step toward a solution. Dentists trained in dental sleep medicine are uniquely equipped to help screen and manage patients with OSA as part of an integrated treatment plan.

Here’s How Your Dentist Can Help:

1. Screening for Signs of Sleep Apnoea During a routine dental exam, your dentist can screen you for sleep apnoea.

If sleep apnoea is suspected, your dentist can refer you for a sleep study to confirm the diagnosis.

2. Providing Oral Appliance Therapy For patients diagnosed with OSA, dentists, where indicated, can create a custom oral appliance known as a mandibular advancement device. These devices are worn during sleep and work by gently repositioning the lower jaw to keep the airway open.

Benefits of Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT):

o Non-invasive and comfortable.

o An alternative for those who struggle with CPAP compliance.

o Portable and convenient for travel.

3. Collaborating with Medical Professionals Dentists work closely with sleep physicians, ENT specialists, and primary care providers to ensure a holistic approach to treating sleep apnoea. This collaboration ensures patients receive the most effective care, whether it’s oral appliance therapy, CPAP, or a combination of treatments.

Why Addressing Snoring Matters

Ignoring snoring can lead to more than just disrupted sleep for you and your partner. Untreated OSA is linked to:

· Heart disease and stroke due to prolonged oxygen deprivation.

· Chronic fatigue that impacts daily functioning.

· Mood disorders like anxiety and depression.

· Weight gain, as poor sleep disrupts hormones that regulate appetite.

By addressing snoring early, you’re not only improving your quality of sleep but also protecting your overall health.

Take the First Step Toward Better Sleep

Snoring doesn’t have to be an inevitable part of your night. If you or a loved one snores consistently or experiences other symptoms of sleep apnoea, it’s time to see a dentist trained in dental sleep medicine. They can guide you through the process of screening for sleep apnoea and the management after.

Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you stop snoring and start sleeping better. Email: info@londondentalsleepclinic.com.