If you snore, your spouse may complain about it with some regularity. Your loud nighttime breathing may even have driven a wedge between the two of you. There is good reason for this; studies have shown that snoring can affect your partner just as much as it can affect you. Snoring is often the result of obstructive sleep apnea, a chronic condition that can have serious consequences for your overall health. Fortunately, we offer sleep apnea and snoring treatment to give you and your spouse a more restful night’s sleep.

Causes and Effects of Snoring

Ever wondered why some people snore and some don’t? Snoring occurs because something is blocking the flow of air. Often, snoring is a side effect of sleep apnea. This condition causes your throat or soft palate to collapse while you are asleep, impeding air flow. In some cases, your tongue may fall backwards into your throat with similar effects. As air struggles to push through the blocked passages, it will often cause loud snoring. In addition to snoring, sleep apnea will result in frequent disruptions to your sleep. You may unconsciously wake up hundreds of times each night.

Sleep apnea will certainly affect you, causing chronic exhaustion, high blood pressure, and an increased risk for cardiovascular disease. However, your snoring can also affect your spouse. Even if he or she never complains about sleep disruptions, your spouse may be waking up almost as much as you are. One Mayo Clinic study showed that while sleep apnea patients woke up 27 times an hour, their partners woke up 21 times an hour.

Snoring Treatment at Our Houston Area Practice

If you are both groggy and irritable, your sleep apnea may be taking a toll on your marriage, as well as your health. Fortunately, our snoring treatment is easy and highly effective. With a complete exam and analysis of your symptoms and medical records, we can often determine if you are suffering from sleep apnea. If you do have this condition, we will typically recommend a small oral appliance. The custom-made device will fit over your teeth and reposition your jaw. This will lift and tighten the soft tissues to open your air passages and stop your snoring. You will be amazed at how such a small device can have such significant benefits for you and your spouse.

About Your Conroe General Dentist:

The Dental Centre of Conroe, John M Richards DDS delivers distinctive cosmetic, restorative, and implant dentistry for residents of Conroe, Houston, The Woodlands, Willis, Huntsville, and the neighboring communities. For more information about our services, or to schedule an appointment, contact us by calling (936) 441-4600.