While snoring itself might not be hurting your health, it can still prove to have many negative effects and be a sleep apnea symptom. It can cause fatigue, irritability, sleep apnea, and a host of many other health problems. There isn’t known to be a miraculous cure for snoring, but there are some tips for things you can do every day to help reduce the problem.
If you have questions about your snoring and how you can get better sleep, contact us today!
Top 10 Tips on How to Stop Snoring
Many people ask, “Why do people snore?” or, “How do I stop snoring?” Here are 10 tips on how to stop snoring (in order from most effective to least effective):
1. NightLase®
NightLase is a snoring treatment that uses a gentle laser to tighten soft tissue in the throat. This improves the airway volume and reduces snoring. We provide the NightLase laser treatment in our office for a comfortable and safe option to treat the causes of snoring. Come find out if NightLase is right for you!
2. Anti-Snoring Sleep Apnea Devices or Appliances
There are several different types of sleep aids, such as anti-snoring devices, on the market. Some different types of anti-snoring devices include nose strips, mouth guards, and pillows. You can get a custom mouthguard from our office!
There are also devices used to help with sleep apnea as well such as CPAP Machines. CPAP machines are medical devices that are FDA-approved that help provide positive airway pressure while you sleep.
3. Invisalign® Orthodontics
Snoring and sleep apnea are sometimes caused by a misaligned jaw or crowded teeth that don’t allow for enough room for the tongue. Invisalign trays can function similarly to a mouthguard by changing how your jaw aligns and reducing snoring. Invisalign can also be a long-term solution by straightening your teeth and allowing room for your tongue to provide a better airway for breathing.
4. Explore Surgical Options
While most of the time, dentists will recommend a device or mouthpiece to keep your airway open while you sleep, sometimes surgery is needed for more severe cases when other therapies aren’t effective.
There are a couple of different surgical options available to you, depending on your situation. Talk with our dentists to find out if you’re a good candidate for surgery. We can help you get the care you need to get a good night’s sleep.
5. Use a CPAP Machine
One device that is used for sleep apnea is called the CPAP machine. CPAP stands for “continuous positive airway pressure.” This machine helps maintain the same pressure during inhalation and exhalation to help your airway open during sleep so that you can breathe properly.
6. Sleep On Your Side
Side sleeping is the best position to sleep in when you snore a lot. Sleeping on your side reduces the compression of your airways. Sometimes propping a pillow behind your back will help you to stay on your side and sleep peacefully through the night.
7. Change Your Habits
Your lifestyle and sleep habits can make your snoring problems worse. One daily habit you can change is reducing the amount of alcohol and/or tobacco you use. Alcohol impacts our central nervous system and relaxes our throat muscles which then causes snoring to become worse.
Eating healthy and losing weight can also help reduce your body mass and open airways to eliminate snoring.
8. Treat Chronic Allergies
Chronic allergies that cause nasal congestion, sneezing, and runny nose will cause more frequent and louder snoring. Treating chronic allergies can help reduce snoring and decrease symptoms of poor-quality sleep. Talk with your primary care physician about which allergy medication might be right for you.
9. Use Nasal Strips or a Nasal Dilator
Nasal strips or nasal dilators can be a solution to help reduce your snoring. Nasal dilators and strips work by mechanically opening your nasal passages which decreases the resistance to incoming air.
10. Use Sleep Apnea Pillows
Sleeping position can often make sleep apnea and snoring worse. Many sleep apnea pillows on the market allow for a better position for sleeping and snoring.
Ready to Really Sleep Soundly Again? Give Us a Call!
Snoring can not only be frustrating for you but your partner as well! Finding the best sleep aids can be difficult, but we are here to help! Contact us today so we can make a plan to get you sleeping peacefully again!
