A survey reveals that 24% of men and 17% of women in Australia suffer from loud snoring. Snoring poses a threat to both the person who snorts as well as the person sleeping next to the snorer. It affects your daily routines and influences your relationship too. You might have come across the news regarding the divorce cases due to the snoring of their partners. It might seem fun, but snoring has more negative impacts on one’s life. Do you know snoring affects your oral health? Yes, dentist Balmain says snoring influences your oral hygiene. This blog gives you a detailed explanation of snoring and its effects on your oral health.
What Is Snoring And How It Occurs?
Snoring is a noise caused by the relaxation of the muscles and the tissues in your mouth and throat, during sleeping. The narrowed airway causes vibration when the air passes through your throat and neck. The narrower the air passage louder is the snoring. Snoring is a disorder, but it is not always the case. Sometimes snoring might be a symptom of sleep apnea, which is a symptom of high blood pressure and other conditions.
Other Factors That Leads to Snoring
- Type 2 diabetes
- Cardiovascular disease
- Obesity
- Sinus or nasal problems
- Pregnancy
- Genetic factors
- Alcohol consumption
- Sleeping position
Snoring Vs. Oral Health
Balmain dentist says that chronic snoring (sleep apnea) leads to poor oral health. As you snore by opening your mouth, your saliva that prevents plaque formation gets reduced leading to a condition known as ‘dry mouth’ (xerostomia). Also, lack of saliva, which acts as a neutralising acid, leads to the formation of halitosis (bad breath), cavities, plaque, and gum diseases like gingivitis and periodontitis, as well as general mouth infections. Teeth grinding, is also associated with snoring. Thus lack of salivary flow results in serious oral related issues says the dentist Balmain. Severe snoring leads to sleep apnea, which has the following impact on your teeth,
- Crooked teeth
- Previous orthodontic work
- Tongue scalloping
- Cheek biting
- Dry mouth in the morning
- Teeth sensitivity
Thus once diagnosed with sleep apnea in the dental clinic Balmain your dentist will refer you to a sleep specialist, who makes you undergo a sleep test.
Dental Devises to Stop Snoring
Due to the advancement in the dentistry, it is possible to treat snoring with dental appliances like CPAP and breathing devices. These devices are handy and can be fit like the retainers. They adapt themselves to the shape of your mouth, jaw, and tongue while you sleep so that oxygen can flow in and out of your lungs unobstructed.
Home Remedies for Snoring
The following are a few home remedies to stop snoring,
- Quit Alcohol And Smoking – Consuming alcohol at least 4 hours before sleeping should be avoided. Also, tobacco is an irritant that leads to tissue inflammation, which restricts the airflow.
- Make Use Of Nasal Obstruction Relievers – Corticosteroid and moisturising nasal sprays and antihistamines stop snoring.
- Change Of Sleeping Position – Sleep on your side by raising the head with extra pillows.
- Exercise – Fat tissue can surround and narrow the airway, so have a regular workout.
Thus like other health conditions, early detection may prevent complications in snoring.