Imagine yourself sound asleep. Suddenly you hear a low rumbling sound coming from the other side of the bed. Gradually, the sound gets louder and louder until you just can’t take it anymore. “Stop snoring!” This routine happens night after night for some people who sleep with snorers. But as if the snoring weren’t bad enough, that disturbing sound may indicate a serious condition called sleep apnea. At San Marcos Gentle Dental, Dr. Donnelly treats sleep apnea and snoring with a snore guard called the Thornton Adjustable Positioner (TAP).
Snoring and You
Simply put snoring is that annoying sound you hear when a snorer inhales during sleep. When you are sleeping, you entire body relaxes—including your tongue, your jaw and the soft tissue in your throat. Consequently, your airway may become narrowed. Then, as air moves through this narrowed passageway, the tissue can be made to vibrate, which is how you hear that snoring sound. By itself, snoring is not a danger to your health. However, it can cause sleepless nights for you and your bed partner, drowsy days, and other health problems that are spawned from lack of sleep.
Sleep Apnea in San Marcos
Unlike snoring, sleep apnea is a chronic medical condition that is marked by pauses in breathing throughout the night. The tissue that vibrates and causes snoring also collapses against your airway and blocks free breathing. Sleep apnea episodes can happen multiple times during the night. And while you may not recall them, your body does. Every time you stop breathing, your brain signals the body to awaken so you’ll start breathing again. The cumulative effect of all these awakenings connects sleep apnea to a number of other medical problems including:
- High blood pressure
- Stroke
- Heart disease
- Type 2 diabetes
- Depression
- Dementia
With a Snore Guard, San Marcos can Sleep Again
To stop both snoring and sleep apnea, Dr. Donnelly prescribes the Thornton Adjustable Positioner (TAP) snore guard. Upper and lower trays that fit over your teeth are connected by a hook and bar system that gently positions your lower jaw forward. This slight movement prevents the soft tissue in your throat from blocking your airway. Worn nightly, you and your bed partner will once again be able to sleep peacefully through the night.
For Sleep Apnea Treatment in San Marcos, Call Our Office
If you or someone else in your family snores at night, contact San Marcos Gentle Dental to see if the TAP snore guard might be able to restore free breathing and rest.