Snoring: Why You Do it and How it Affects Your Oral Health
Few things are as satisfying as a good, relaxing night’s sleep. Alternatively, few things can set your day off to a terrible start like waking from a night of restless, interrupted snoozing that’s left you tired and irritable. Occasional sleep loss will throw you off balance for the day, but routinely poor or inadequate sleep can have devastating health effects as the years go by. Snoring is one of many ways we may interrupt our own sleep or that of our partner, but did you know that snoring can negatively impact you beyond just a few hours of lost sleep? If you’d like to learn more about the health impacts of snoring, read on to get informed!
Why Do We Snore?
The fundamental reason for snoring is that the snorers airway is partially blocked while they are trying to breathe. This may seem scary, and depending on the severity of the issue, it can be a cause for alarm. Obesity and overuse of drugs and alcohol can promote snoring from a mild annoyance to a life threatening issue, however most of the time snoring is just a normal part of life. While we are sleeping, all of the muscles in our body relax, including those in the mouth and throat. Sometimes the muscles of the throat relax enough to partially obstruct the airway and block the passage of oxygen. When air is forced through a smaller path, it can cause the surrounding tissues to vibrate as it moves past, causing the sound we associate with snoring. The narrower this passage is, the more vibration occurs, and the louder the sound can be.
Oral Health Implications
Because snoring only happens when we breathe through our mouths, snoring directly leads to dry mouth (xerostomia). Dry mouth is an annoying condition that can leave us feeling parched and struggling to breathe, but it can also wreak havoc on our oral health. When your mouth is dry, you aren’t producing enough saliva to help wash away harmful bacteria that can cause tooth decay and lead to cavities. A buildup of bacteria is also a direct cause of bad breath and an increased risk of infection. Maintaining an adequately moistened mouth is crucial to maintaining good oral health. Additionally, studies have found that some of the ways in which we treat snoring can have negative impacts on your oral health or comfort. Mouthguards worn at night can alternatively cause excessive salivation, joint pain, or bite changes. For many sufferers of snoring, however, these negative impacts do not outweigh the need for treating their snoring.
Snoring is an abundantly common occurrence and almost everyone will snore at some point in their lives. However, if you snore routinely, it could be impacting your oral health and should be brought up to your dentist. To discuss your snoring habits with your dentist and restore your oral health, call Hinsdale Dental today to schedule your appointment!
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