Have your loved ones told you that you snore in your sleep? Luckily, you (and those around you) don’t have to live with this forever. In fact, if you are a chronic snorer, it is important that you schedule an appointment with TruBlu Dentistry straight away to remedy the issue. Alleviating your snoring will accomplish more than just eliminating this nuisance for your loved ones—it can also greatly improve your health! Here are just five of how snoring, if left untreated, can impact your health.
1. Snoring occurs when your airways are obstructed.
While snoring is certainly common — affecting 90 million Americans, according to the National Sleep Foundation—it definitely should not be considered normal. Snoring is often a sound created by the vibration of tissues in your mouth and throat. So if you have particularly bulky tissue or the muscle tone in your throat and tongue is slightly weaker, they may slightly obstruct your airway and make the disruptive vibration sound.
2. Snoring may be a warning sign for an underlying health issue.
Unfortunately, snoring is often an indicator of some underlying health issues that need to be addressed. For example, it may be a sign of problems with the anatomy of your mouth and sinuses, such as chronic sinus inflammation, narrow nasal passages, a deviated septum, an elongated uvula, and more. It can also be triggered by a sleep disorder known as Obstructive Sleep Apnea.
3. Snoring may be a sign of a sleep disorder.
Snoring is commonly a result of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), a sleep disorder that impacts your breathing as you sleep. When you have OSA, your upper airway narrows or collapses in your sleep, causing you to stop breathing periodically. Some experience as many as 300 lapses in breathing per night! If left untreated, this can lead to several complications, including difficulty concentrating, headaches, depression, high blood pressure, and more.
4. It can make your sleep less restorative.
While many associate snoring with deep sleep, it actually deprives you of the ability to achieve a good night’s sleep. Snoring deprives the brain of oxygen, making it so you cannot get into a healthy REM cycle. Therefore, your sleep will often feel disrupted and shallow. Those with OSA often wake up at night to force their airways to open, causing chronic sleep deprivation.
5. It can impact your overall health.
Many studies have shown that when snoring correlates with sleep apnea, it can elevate your risk for several health issues. Men and women who snore have a higher risk of obesity, stroke, Type 2 diabetes, constant drowsiness, depression, headaches, and more. Luckily, by treating your problem at the source, you can alleviate your risk for these life-threatening illnesses.
Want to eliminate your snoring and get a restorative night’s sleep? TruBlu Dentistry can help! We provide services to have you fitted for Silent Nite, a noninvasive, custom-made dental device that opens up your airways and lets you get the best sleep of your life. To schedule your consultation, contact our Chicago, Hegewisch, or Burbank offices today!