Sleep disorders and snoring are not a uniform clinical picture. In sleep medicine, well over 80 different forms are differentiated from one another. Read more about this exciting topic and what you can do about it here.
WHY DO YOU SNORE?
A partner's disturbance at night is not only annoying, but also sleep-depriving for the affected person. Normal snoring is similar to the rustling of leaves, loud snoring reaches up to 70 decibels - which corresponds to the volume of a lawnmower. Middle-aged people are particularly affected by snoring.
But how exactly does snoring, also known as rhonchopathy, come about?
During sleep, all the muscles in the human body relax.
This also includes the tongue, which sinks backwards when relaxed and can block the palate arch in the throat area. When the outflowing air hits the resulting obstacle, it has to pass through the area under increased pressure - which causes the soft soft palate to vibrate strongly and thus creates the typical snoring sound.
Not only the relaxed tongue muscle can cause snoring, but also the uvula and the arch of the palate, which sink deeper during sleep and narrow the airways. Men are more often affected by snoring than women, which is due to the anatomical differences between the two sexes.
Women are under the influence of the female hormone estrogen, which gives their neck and throat muscles increased tension and stability. Men, on the other hand, have a narrower neck and softer throat muscles, which make them much more susceptible to snoring.
Snoring not only occurs in the mouth, but can also be caused in the nose. If the air cannot pass straight through due to swollen mucous membranes or other impairments, disturbing noises arise.
WHERE DOES SNORING COME FROM?
Why some people are affected by snoring and some can sleep through the night without making any noise depends on various exogenous and endogenous factors.
EXOGENE FACTORS:
In many cases, the sleeping position plays an important role.
If you lie on your back while sleeping, you run the risk of gravity causing the tongue muscles to sink into the back of the throat.
Furthermore, the consumption of sleeping pills and alcohol can be the cause of excessive snoring: the substances they contain cause excessive relaxation of the entire muscles.
Smoking is also a factor that should not be neglected. Cigarettes irritate the sensitive mucous membranes in the mouth and throat and can lead to swelling, which becomes noticeable at night through loud noises.
Why some people are affected by snoring and some sleep soundlessly.
ENDOGENEOUS FACTORS:
Anatomical conditions such as enlarged tonsils, nasal polyps, bending of the nasal septum or misalignment of the jaw can promote snoring. Being overweight also leads to an increase in fatty tissue in the throat area, which results in a narrowing of the throat area. Women experience increased snoring during pregnancy, which is due to weight gain. Furthermore, people who suffer from hay fever or a house dust allergy often have to struggle with annoying sleeping noises due to the swollen nasal mucous membranes. Have you gotten into the habit of breathing through your mouth? Mouth breathing not only leads to reduced oxygen intake and bacteria formation in the mouth, but also to increased snoring.
Is your snoring caused by your mouth, for example due to a swollen nose or too relaxed mouth and throat muscles? A snoring guard, which is similar to braces, can provide quick and effective relief. It creates appropriate tension in the lower jaw, fixes the tongue and keeps the airways clear throughout the night.
Snoring is annoying, but mostly harmless.
In rare cases, sleep apnea occurs, which can be dangerous for those affected if left untreated. The relaxed tongue and throat muscles close the throat so tightly that air no longer flows through properly and breathing stops can occur. However, thanks to modern medicine, sleep apnea can be successfully treated in several ways.
WHAT CAUSES SNORING?
Snoring can have various causes. Obstructed nasal breathing, adenoids, maxillary sinusitis, swollen tonsils, etc. can be responsible. Ultimately, any reasons that obstruct the flow of air through the airways during the night can trigger snoring. Correspondingly, excess weight or natural physiognomy. An interdisciplinary clarification of the cause of snoring with various specialists is usually required in order to determine the actual cause.
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WHAT REALLY HELPS AGAINST SNORING?
In order for the body to receive enough oxygen while sleeping, the airways must be kept clear. Blocked nasal breathing is often the reason why people breathe in through the mouth.
Therefore, you should drink little liquid just before going to bed, as this causes the tissue to swell and narrows the throat. Alcohol, which counteracts muscle tension and causes internal tissues to relax, is particularly inadvisable. Consuming cigarettes and other tobacco products also irritates the mucous membranes, which cause them to swell. In addition, non-functional methemoglobin can form, which limits oxygen transport.
For example, if you have an allergic reaction to tree pollen, which mostly flies around at night, you should definitely close your window and, if necessary, take anti-allergic medicine.
Even larger meals before sleep that overfill your stomach and intestines can be triggers for mild diaphragm shift. Your lungs also shift upwards a bit and the use of the upper airways is prevented. For these reasons, it is also advisable to regulate your weight and be aware of positive effects such as reducing sleep apnea with a small amount of weight loss.
Your sleeping position is also crucial. Lying on your back and high pillows are suboptimal because they create unfavorable tongue positions and block your airways. A sleeping place in the head area that is tilted slightly upwards stops the redistribution of the body's own fluids towards the head, which can also cause the soft tissues of the neck to swell when the body otherwise lies flat.
HOW DO I KNOW I'M SNORING?
When the lower jaw slides back in a relaxed manner while sleeping, the tongue falls back and the air flow between the palate or soft palate and the tongue is reduced. When the mouth is opened, the uvula and soft palate vibrate more strongly due to the slightly narrowed airflow. Often the person affected does not notice the snoring themselves, but suffers from xerostomia (dry mouth), hoarseness and a sore throat. The sleep disorders known from a lack of oxygen (sleep apnea) can also lead to significant health problems for snorers. Anyone who suffers from a mild form of sleep apnea can be helped with a bite splint, also known as a snoring brace. Snoring splints are available as two-piece biblock or one-piece monoblock splints.
- Xerostomia – How can it be treated by the dentist?
HOW DOES A SNORING SPRINT/PROTRUSION SPRINT WORK?
The name of the “protrusion splint” is derived from the Latin protrusio “pushing, pushing forward”, as this splint is connected to one another by a joint and thus pushes the lower jaw forward slightly and counteracts hypoapnea (reduction in air flow due to narrowing of the airways). This forward movement of the lower jaw through the mouthpiece (snoring splint) optimizes mouth breathing and thus prevents snoring while sleeping with optimal comfort and no side effects.
First, the dentist has two plastic splints (the later snoring splints) made using an impression of the upper and lower jaw rail are connected by a small metal joint. This construction then gently shifts the lower jaw forward while sleeping.
By connecting the joint, the distance and position of the jaws relative to each other in the mouth can be individually adjusted. The splint therefore keeps the lower jaw in an optimal position. The resulting change in position caused by the snoring guard means that the tongue can no longer fall backwards, which usually causes the typically unpleasant noises when sleeping.
This means the throat remains wide open and more air comes into the lungs, which means the blood is sufficiently saturated with oxygen. This functionality is based on the logic of removable braces; they are only worn at night. CMD diagnostics are a valuable therapeutic aid in the manufacture of snoring mouthpieces and in the fight against sleep disorders caused by snoring. It enables a three-dimensional representation of the positional relationships in the mouth and jaw.
HOW SUCCESSFUL IS THE TREATMENT WITH A SNORING BRACES/PROTRUSION SPRINT?
Scientific studies show that in over 90 % dentist patients the snoring splint reduces snoring and the so-called sleep apnea can be reduced many times over. In America, many dentist patients have been wearing this snoring guard for around 15 years. Here in Germany, these snoring guards have only been used by dentists for a few years. Apnea phases often occur in the early morning hours. It is therefore important to wear the snoring mouthpiece all night long.
Tongue training against snoring
Laser therapy for snoring
Protrusion splint against snoring
Bite normalize after night
HOW TO WEAR A SNORING SPRINT, SNORING BRACES AND PROTRUSION SPRINTS?
WHAT TYPES OF SNORING SPRINT (PROTRUSION SPRINT) DO WE OFFER YOU IN PRACTICE?
The snoring splint favored in our centers is the so-called protrusion splint.
This snoring splint is one of the most commonly used snoring therapy devices. It consists of two plastic rails and are connected to an adjustable centering device via a hook on an adjustment unit (joint). Before making this snoring splint, the dentist determines the corresponding direction of advance of the lower jaw and can use this construction process to produce an individual snoring splint for the patient that fits well.
HOW MUCH DOES A SNORING SPRINT COST?
The cost factor of a rail depends on the material and size. Cheaper standard models are available for CHF 40 to 50. Easily customized thermoplastically deformable splints are available for around CHF 150 in pharmacies or online. If you request a professional snoring splint with a dental impression from the dentist and then have your individual splint manufactured in the dental technology laboratory, you should expect costs of around CHF 800 to 1,300
DOES HEALTH INSURANCE COVER A LOWER JAW PROTRUSION SPLINT?
SILENSOR-SL® SNORBAN® TAP® SOMNOGUARD® SOMNOFIT SNORFLEX®
The SILENSOR-SL® SNORBAN® TAP® anti-snoring splints pull the lower jaw forward and thus tense the throat muscles, thereby keeping the airways clear while sleeping. In this way, snoring is prevented and you can finally sleep deeply again and wake up properly rested. The anti-snoring splint from Snorflex® is intended to help snorers breathe more freely while sleeping. The splint from Somnofit is simpler and is offered online in a comparison of various price portals from CHF 70.
HOW LONG DO SNORING BRACES LAST? SNORING SPRINT?
How long the splint can be used depends on various factors. These include the strength of the stress, e.g. B. by grinding your teeth. However, a snoring brace can be worn for several years. The splints are often changed when they have become unsightly due to long use or new adjustments have become necessary due to new dental bridges or dental crowns. The costs of the rails are currently not covered by health insurance companies, so you have to pay for the snoring guard privately. Only in individual cases will statutory health insurance cover the costs of a snoring brace for the patient in the event of sleep apnea.
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