Types Of Sleeping Issues In Columbia, SC

Snoring

Snoring occurs when your airway is obstructed during sleep. Typically, this happens due to the soft tissues colliding in the back of your throat. That collision creates a vibration, snoring. Adults that snore periodically are not alone, estimating that chronic snoring affects 24 percent of women, 40 percent of men, and 10 percent of children. Children might snore due to missing teeth, altering the shape of tissues within their mouth, a contributing factor to blocked airways. Causes of snoring are plentiful, including:

• Born with a narrow airway
• Low, thick, soft palate, elongated uvula, or large tonsils
• Sleeping position
• Overweight or obese
• Chronic nasal congestion
• Alcohol and tobacco use
• Pregnancy
• Family history

Tiredness or fatigue throughout the day are common consequences of snoring and, when it is quite severe, you might not be receiving sufficient oxygen at night. Feelings of illness or fatigue should be relayed to our office immediately. As you snore, you are breathing with your mouth open, which creates dryness that can generate bad breath, bacteria buildup, tooth decay, infections, and sores.

Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea happens when the upper airway becomes blocked while asleep. As a result, the diaphragm and chest muscles have to work harder to open the airway to pull air into the lungs. Each breath can become extremely shallow, or briefly stop altogether before starting again with a loud gasp, snort, or body jerk. This condition can also lower the flow of oxygen to organs and create uneven heart rhythms. Since there are many other medical conditions that can cause these symptoms, we advise you to speak with us about it at yourmnext dental appointment. Warning signs of obstructive sleep apnea include:

Anti-Snoring Mouth Pieces

Snoring is the sound that projects from our mouth when we are asleep. This occurs when there is resistance in the airway caused by a flap in the back of the throat. Although many believe that snoring occurs from the nose, it actually begins behind the tongue. This is due to our muscles relaxing during sleep. As we sleep, our airway gets smaller, which causes our throat to vibrate due to a lack of space, which is what makes the snoring sound.

Snoring can occur for more serious reasons though, and one such reason is sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is when our breathing takes multiple breaks during the sleep cycle. If your child is suffering from sleep apnea, there is a high chance they snore as well. To stop snoring from occurring, there are snoring devices your child can use. A snoring device brings the jaw forward so the tissues in the throat do not vibrate and press against one another. A snoring mouthpiece helps open the airway, which reduces the resistance and relaxes the muscles. The three most popular snoring mouthpieces are the mandibular advancement device (MAD), tongue stabilizing devices, and snoring chin straps.

• The mandibular advancement device opens the airway through two pieces that look like retainers. These retainers are attached to ensure your child's mouth stays open for proper airflow.
• A tongue stabilizing device is used to isolate the tongue by bringing it forward and creating a wide gap between the tongue and throat. This helps ease the vibrations that occur when sleeping.
• A snoring chin strap is a device that is not used as common due to the discomfort it may cause. This device wraps around the head to keep the mouth from opening; however, it has not been as effective as its counterparts.

It is important to note that while every parent wants their child to stop snoring, some methods to stop snoring can only be used after the development stage of your child's jaw has stopped, typically around age 16. Regardless of your child's age though, contact our office if you suspect your child may suffer from snoring or sleep apnea.