Help! I Can’t Stop Snoring. What Are My Treatment Options?

Snoring is the sound created when you move air back and forth between relaxed throat muscles while you’re asleep. Virtually everyone snores at some point or another, but when snoring becomes a part of your regular sleep routines, it shouldn’t be ignored. 

Irving S. Lebovics, DDS, works with patients in and around Los Angeles, California, to find lasting relief from snoring, delivering better rest for the patient and those who share their sleep environment. 

Here’s what you need to know about persistent snoring and what can be done to remedy the situation. 

What could be causing my snoring?

Some people know they snore at night because the sound and feel of snoring will wake them up. Often, however, it’s your sleep partner who alerts you to the situation. 

A number of different things can cause or contribute to snoring. Some people simply have anatomical differences that make snoring more likely. For others, consuming alcohol before bed can cause the throat muscles to relax more than normal. 

Obstructive sleep apnea is a common cause of snoring. This condition develops when the muscles in the back of your throat relax as you fall into deep sleep, which allows your airway to fully or partially close. In response, your brain triggers your body to gasp to get more oxygen, which wakes you to some degree (but not always fully). 

As a result, your body doesn’t get enough rest, leaving you feeling fatigued during the day. Sleep apnea can be a very serious health condition, and left untreated, increases your risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, metabolic syndrome, liver disease, and more. 

There are treatments that can reduce or eliminate snoring

Finding the right treatment path begins with gaining insight into what is likely causing your snoring. In some cases, something as simple as changing your pillow or sleep position, avoiding alcohol before bed, or losing some extra weight might be all that’s needed to stop snoring. 

For many, however, treating snoring requires a more in-depth approach. Using an oral appliance is an outstanding option that can dramatically reduce your snoring and improve your sleep quality without drug therapy or invasive procedures. 

An oral appliance is a custom-made device that fits inside your mouth. It works to slightly shift the position of your jaw, which in turn changes the alignment of your throat tissues as you sleep. 

Is wearing an oral appliance painful?

It definitely takes time to get used to wearing an oral appliance, but the experience is not painful, just a bit awkward at first. After all, you’ve gotten used to going to sleep with nothing in your mouth for years, so give yourself some time to get used to wearing your oral appliance at night. 

The device is custom made to align with your mouth’s contouring. It fits gently between your upper and lower teeth, but you’ll still be able to close your mouth around the appliance. 

For most people, it takes a couple of weeks to fully get used to the sensation of wearing an oral appliance during sleep. Soon, though, putting in your device will become just another part of your bedtime routine. Very often, the additional energy you’ll notice after improved sleep will make you more than happy to use your oral appliance as prescribed. 

If you’d like to learn more, come in for a face-to-face consultation with Irving S. Lebovics, DDS. You can discuss your concerns and explore various treatment options. We can be reached by phone if you prefer, or you can use our online booking option to review appointment times and dates.