While my husband has snored as long as we’ve been married, it never really bothered me until after we had children. Now, I’m exhausted all the time. I sleep more lightly because I’m worried I won’t hear the children so his snoring is waking me up through the night. If I toss him over, it will stop temporarily but then he rolls back over. Can anything get me sleeping again?
Bethany M.
Dear Bethany,
You’ll be glad to hear that there is a solution for this, especially because he stops snoring when you roll him over. Most of the time, the cause of this type of snoring is mild sleep apnea. This happens because the muscles in the back of his throat relax when he’s lying on his back partially blocking the airway. This causes the vibration sound of snoring.
The easiest way to treat this is to have him see a dentist which treats sleep apnea. They can make him a special orthotic for his mouth which will reposition his jaw while he sleeps, preventing the snoring.
The Importance of a Good Dentist
Often, your dentist will notice things, such as a bite being misaligned (which can lead to problems like TMJ). If the bite is off, which could affect the muscles in his throat, a simple procedure such as Invisalign could be a permanent solution.
Those regular oral exams are important. They help keep an eye out for issues that can sneak up on you, such as cavities or dental infections. It’s often men who avoid seeing a dentist. Then, before they know it, they’re in need of an emergency dentist. The dentist should also be checking for things like oral cancer, etc.
This blog is brought to you by Dr. Fred Arnold.