Stop Snoring and Sleep Apnoea

Snoring is a very common condition, almost everybody snores on occasion and around 40% of the population snores regularly. Regular snoring is a major cause of tiredness in the sufferer and can be irritating to others who sleep close by, placing strain on relationships. In addition to leaving you feeling unrefreshed when you awake and tired during the day, snoring and sleep apnoea can lead to more serious health conditions such as high blood pressure and heart disease.

When you are asleep your body goes into relaxation mode, this is when snoring occurs. Any small blockage in your airway from the tip of your nose to the back of your throat causes turbulence in your breath. Snoring occurs when this turbulence vibrates on the soft tissue in your mouth, nose or throat. As you are asleep and your muscles totally relaxed, there is no tension in the muscles to stop them vibrating and causing noise. The most common cause is the tongue relaxing onto the back of the throat.

Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) is a more serious condition beyond snoring and simple vibrations, it can stop you breathing. When the tongue and soft palette totally relax and collapse on the back of the throat, the air flow is stopped and the problem becomes more serious.  Oxygen levels fall which your brain recognises, triggering muscle spasms and awakening from a deep sleep. As you wake the muscles regain tension and your airways re-open usually with a loud gasp as the air is sucked in. This process can repeat itself many times in a night as the body again relaxes into a deep sleep then awakes to get air, creating a very disruptive sleep. Common side effects of sleep apnoea include awaking tired and thirsty, fatigue during the day, irritable mood, memory problems and the desire to take naps. Furthermore, individuals who suffer from OAS have been linked to a higher occurrence of heart attacks, congestive heart failure, hypertension, strokes and other serious health problems.

Although difficult to estimate, it is thought that around 9% of females and 25% of males in Australia suffer from OSA (http://snoreaustralia.com.au/obstructive-sleep-apnoea.php).

Snoring and OSA can be effectively treated making sleepiness and drowsiness a thing of the past. Returning to a normal sleeping pattern will greatly increase your vitality. Your friendly team at Calamvale Village Dental are experienced in the delivery of Dental Appliance Therapy which is a proven, effective and comfortable treatment for snoring and OSA. The devices work on prevention, supporting the soft tissues in the back of your throat and base of your tongue so they cannot collapse and obstruct your airway. The devices are both effective and comfortable.

To learn how you can improve the quality of your sleep and in turn the quality of your life, contact us here at Calamvale Village Dental for expert advice and care.