What Type of Oral Appliance Can Help with Snoring?

Snoring seems like a minor annoyance. And, sometimes, that’s all it is. But snoring is also a hallmark of a serious sleep breathing disorder called obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which affects about one billion women and men around the world. 

When you snore, the flow of oxygen through your airway is blocked by some part of your anatomy. Your tonsils or tongue may be overly large. You may have a deviated nasal septum. Or, if you’re overweight, a bulky neck or chin could be the culprit.

If snoring is a symptom of sleep apnea, then you literally stop breathing multiple times a night. If you have sleep apnea, your snores may be severe enough to wake you up or even leave you gagging for air. You may awaken feeling groggy, unrested, and irritable.

Addie Chang, DMD, an expert family dentist, recommends oral appliances to treat snoring and OSA. She custom fits you for an oral appliance that helps you breathe at her clinic in Tukwila, Washington. 

Would you like to stop snoring and get a good night’s sleep? Here’s how an oral appliance can help.

An oral appliance is custom made

Unlike online and over-the-counter remedies for snoring, an oral appliance is custom made to fit your mouth. We first take digital impressions of both arches of teeth. We then send that to a laboratory, who creates your custom appliance.

This appliance is designed to keep your airways open at night. Over-the-counter remedies may open your nostrils, but they don’t do anything to ensure that the airway itself is unobstructed.

You wear the appliance all night

Your custom-designed appliance keeps your jaw slightly forward and your tongue down so that air you take in through your nose while sleeping can pass into your lungs unobstructed. You must wear the appliance all night long to get the real benefits.

With an open airway, you now breathe deeply and fully so that your organs and other tissues are suffused with oxygen and nutrients. In the morning, you simply take out your appliance, clean it, and store it until the next night.

The appliance isn’t attached to any sort of machine. It’s easily transportable if you need to travel.

You awaken refreshed

You (and your partner) won’t be awakened multiple times a night by your snoring once you adapt to your oral appliance. Instead, you sleep deeply and continuously throughout the night.

When you awaken, you should feel refreshed, not groggy. Thanks to your oral appliance, your body and brain got the rest they needed to handle all the pressures and stresses of the upcoming day. You should be free from:

• Sore throat
• Fatigue
• Brain fog
• Irritability
• Memory problems
• Difficulty focusing

If you do have sleep apnea, the benefits extend beyond how you feel throughout the day. Untreated sleep apnea puts you at risk for serious complications, including heart attack, stroke, and dementia. With one simple appliance, you reduce your risk for developing chronic or acute conditions that could severely impact the quality or length of your life.

Stop snoring and start breathing at night with your custom-designed oral appliance. Contact our team today to schedule an appointment by phone or online form.