Snoring affects millions of people of all ages, both male and female. Oral appliance therapy is the most common treatment for the most severe snoring problems. Treatment procedures range from changing your sleep patterns to utilizing orthodontic-related appliances that help open the airways during sleep.

Snoring
Snoring is caused by the vibrations of your soft tissues at some point along your airway to the lungs. These vibrations occur at narrow points along that airway. When air passes through these passages, a “flapping” sound occurs because the tissue is soft in nature. Surgery to alleviate the snoring is not always successful and is more aggressive than other therapies. Surf Smiles Family Dentistry has had great success in helping patients to control snoring with Oral Repositioning Appliances.

Sleep Apnea
Loud snorers may have a more serious case of blocked air passages, known as obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). In these cases, the blockage of air is so great that no air can get through, causing repeated awakenings throughout the night. Obstructive sleep apnea can contribute or lead to many other conditions, such as high blood pressure, stroke, heart attack and depression, so it is important to be diagnosed by a medical professional if you experience any sleep-related symptoms.