Many sound sleepers can be noisy, snoring and potentially keeping their partners and family awake. Snoring is common and generally harmless, but chronic snoring that interrupts your sleep could be a sign of a deeper issue. Your dentist has several treatments available to help you sleep.
Laser treatment can improve snoring symptoms by tightening collagen in the mouth and throat, but it’s important to learn everything you can about this treatment option. Learning how laser treatment for snoring works and who is eligible can help you decide if it’s right for you.
Why Do People Snore When They Sleep?
Snoring is one of the most common sleep disturbances, affecting countless people all over the world. Some people snore lightly, while others may significantly snore, even waking up family members.
You can snore for many reasons, including:
- Alcohol use
- Pregnancy
- Congestion
- Age
- Genetics
Signs You Might Be Snoring
Many patients learn they snore from their partner, friends, or family. However, you can still see if you’re snoring if you sleep alone.
Setting up your phone or another device to record your sleep can help you identify if you snore. Additionally, some apps can track your sleep, providing the same results.
Watch out for the following symptoms— they might be a sign your snoring is loud enough to affect your sleep:
- Fatigue
- Daytime sleepiness
- Irritability
- Difficulty focusing
While some causes of snoring aren’t concerning, many patients live with sleep apnea—an often undiagnosed condition that can significantly affect their health. You can generally tell these conditions apart by the sounds of your snoring.
Sleep apnea-related snoring is typically loud and can sound like you’re choking or gasping for air. While regular snoring can be loud, it sounds like common snoring, not like you’re out of breath.
How Is Sleep Apnea Treated?
Although snoring and sleep apnea are different symptoms and conditions, they can be related to the same underlying cause. Sleep apnea is a concerning medical condition that can lead to serious health complications if left untreated.
Several treatments exist to help manage this condition, including:
- CPAP or oral appliances: Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines have helped patients improve their sleep for years, using pressurized air to keep the airway open. Additionally, oral appliances can hold the jaw and tongue in position, preventing the airway from becoming blocked.
- Lifestyle changes: Maintaining a healthy weight, changing how you sleep, and avoiding alcohol and smoking are some lifestyle changes that may help improve sleep quality. However, only some benefit from these changes and often require other treatments.
- Laser treatment: Laser treatments help reduce snoring by tightening collagen in the mouth to prevent muscles from relaxing. While laser treatments aren’t a solution to treating sleep apnea, they can be a complimentary service and done inconjunction with one of the above therapies. Laser therapy when added to CPAP or Mandibular Oral Advancement Appliance Therapy can help to create an optimal environment for increased air flow to reduce symptoms and improve sleep quality
How Does Laser Treatment for Snoring Work?
Many patients are mouth snorers, meaning the soft palate—the muscles and tissues in your mouth—begins to relax and become susceptible to vibrations (snoring). You can treat snoring with laser treatments like Solea Sleep. During treatment, a specialized laser helps tighten the soft tissue in your mouth.
This treatment works by tightening collagen (an essential protein for your skin and muscles) in the mouth, leading to a tightened soft palate. Tightening these muscles results in a more open airway and reduced snoring.
Some of the benefits of Solea Sleep include:
- Reduced or eliminated snoring
- Improved sleep
- Fewer sleep apnea symptoms
- Fewer morning headaches
- Improved memory and concentration
While treatment takes around 5 minutes, the results of Solea Sleep are much greater. This treatment can improve snoring for 12 to 15 months, and research shows it’s effective and one of the least invasive forms of sleep apnea treatment.
Is Laser Treatment Right For You?
While anyone can receive laser treatment, it’s ideal for patients struggling with sleep. Speak to your dentist for recommendations for an at-home sleep test to monitor your sleep and identify the best treatment for your needs.
Improve Your Sleep
Grogginess, headaches, and trouble focusing don’t need to be an everyday occurrence—Solea Sleep can help improve your snoring and sleep quality. Visit our dental team to determine if this treatment meets your needs. Contact Elevate Dental if you’re interested in laser or other sleep treatments.
