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Seven Simple Ways to Quit Snoring | Rancho Santa Margarita Dentist

No one wants to hear that they snore, but it’s more than just a nuisance to the people around you. A poor night’s sleep can cause some very cranky, unproductive days, but it can also lead to health issues. Chronic snoring may be a sign of something more serious and should be checked out by a professional. If it becomes something like sleep apnea, it could lead to heart issues down the line.

There are various options when it comes to sleep aids but be careful which you choose. Asking a medical professional will be able to suggest an appropriate option based on your specific needs. Here are some other natural ways to try to control your snoring:

Change your sleep position from on your back to on your side will help prevent snoring.

Lose weight. Yes, thin people also snore, but if you find that your snoring started around the same time as a sudden weight gain, losing that weight may alleviate the issue.

Avoid alcohol and sedatives before bed because these reduce the resting tone of the muscles in the back of your throat, making it easier to snore.

Practice good sleep habits. Sleep deprivation has a similar effect that alcohol does.

Open nasal passages with a hot shower or a neti pot treatment before bed or nasal strips to keep your nasal passages open.

Change your pillows. Dust mites and pet dander can lead to issues with snoring.

Drink plenty of fluids. According to the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine determined that an adequate daily fluid intake is about 15.5 cups (3.7 liters) of fluids a day for men and about 11.5 cups (2.7 liters) of fluids a day for women.

If you would like more information on snoring, call Dr. Herd in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA at 949-858-5147 or visit www.gregherddds.com.

Dr. Greg J. Herd proudly serves Rancho Santa Margarita and all surrounding areas.

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Do You Know Why You Snore? | Rancho Santa Margarita Dentist

Everyone wants a good night’s sleep. Not only is being tired a reason for a bad day, but if it is becoming commonplace, it may be a result of bigger issues. Because nothing feels better than waking up completely refreshed and ready to start the day. If you snore, getting a good night’s sleep isn’t as easy as just closing your eyes. Even worse, if you have a loved one that snores, and it affects your sleep, this may become cause for contention in the morning hours. While snoring doesn’t seem to be a tremendous cause for concern, understanding why you snore can help figure out the best way to treat it. Let’s take a look at possible reasons you may be snoring at night:

Obesity. One of the main causes for snoring could be a weight issue. When carrying around extra weight, the excess weight is putting pressure on your neck and causing an obstruction to your air flow while you sleep, causing you to snore. Losing some of the extra weight will help alleviate this issue.

Allergies. Because the typical medication for allergies is an antihistamine, and it relaxes the muscles in your throat, many allergy sufferers start to snore due to the blocked airway from the relaxed muscles.

Alcohol and sleeping pills. Similar to the allergy sufferers, because alcohol and sleeping pills relax your muscles, taking these before bedtime may cause you to snore.

Anatomy. Sometimes there isn’t anything you can do about your snoring habits – it’s just part of your anatomy. Issues like a deviated septum, enlarged tonsils or even a broken nose can block the air passages needed to breathe freely as you sleep.

If you would like more information on snoring, call Dr. Greg J. Herd in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA at 949-858-5147 or visit www.gregherddds.com.

Dr. Herd proudly serves Rancho Santa Margarita and all surrounding areas.

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Improve Your Sleep with a Snore Guard | Rancho Santa Margarita Dentist

If you are having trouble sleeping, it is important that you see if you’ve developed a sleep disorder. Unfortunately, you aren’t going to be the only one having an issue with sleeping – most people don’t know they have an issue until they are told by a loved one sleeping close by. And if this happens to be the case, you will be prescribed a snore guard in order to get a better night’s sleep. Unfortunately, snore guards are generally quite bulky, and it may be the bulkiness of the snore guard that bothers you and your gag reflex.

For those that don’t know, a snore guard is a mouthpiece that is custom fitted to your mouth to help a myriad of dental problems and relieve the systems of TMJ or bruxism. As you become used to your new snore guard, follow the following instructions:

  • Ask your dentist to start out with a thin night guard that will be easier to get used to.
  • Have your family dentist fabricate both an upper and lower snore guard to see which one you find more comfortable. Find which is more comfortable and get a thicker one fabricated after you adjust to its feeling.
  • Put your snore guard in right before you go to bed to lessen the chances that you’ll find it bothersome.
  • Take at least 30 days to get used to the snore guard and create a habit.

Be aware that snore guards are an aid for bruxism, but you will need to find out why you are grinding or clenching your teeth and make changes. Wearing a snore guard won’t do anything but protect your teeth from harm.

If you would like more information about snore guards, call Dr. Greg J. Herd in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA at 949-858-5147 or visit www.gregherddds.com.

Dr. Herd proudly serves Rancho Santa Margarita and all surrounding areas.

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Sleeping Issues and Your Teeth | Rancho Santa Margarita Dentist

We all know that we need a good night’s sleep. Not only for our overall health, but just to keep us functioning in our day-to-day lives. Most of us aren’t getting enough sleep, especially if you are living in the adult world. We work hard all week and hope that the weekend brings us some well-needed rest. But what if this sleep involves snoring? Chances are, you aren’t getting a good night’s sleep, regardless of the amount of time allotted.

If you are, what’s often described as a “loud snorer”, it is imperative that you follow a strict oral hygiene routine to reduce the chances of you developing any number of oral health problems. Not only do we not give our bodies enough time to regroup, but our teeth need saliva for protection. Because snoring causes your mouth to dry out (xerostomia), it can lead to a variety of oral health problems, including bad breath (halitosis), burning mouth syndrome, mouth sores, infections, tooth decay and in worse cases, gum disease.

If you have chronic sleep issues due to snoring, you may need to use an oral appliance to combat the negative dental side effects, like discomfort, excess salivation, TMJ, facial muscle pain and even bite changes.

To put simply, snoring has a huge effect on our teeth, both directly and indirectly. If you feel that you and your family are already suffering too much because of your snoring, consult a dentist. They can present to you a number of medical treatment options to help you deal you’re your snoring problem.

If you would like more information about sleep issues, call Dr. Greg J. Herd in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA at 949-858-5147 or visit www.gregherddds.com.

Dr. Herd proudly serves Rancho Santa Margarita and all surrounding areas.

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Why Do I Snore? | Rancho Santa Margarita Dentist

Everyone wants a good night’s sleep. Nothing feels better than waking up completely refreshed and ready to start the day. If you snore, getting a good night’s sleep isn’t as easy as just closing your eyes. Even worse, if you have a loved one that snores, and it affects your sleep, this may become cause for contention in the morning hours. While snoring doesn’t seem to be a tremendous cause for concern, understanding why you snore can help figure out the best way to treat it. Let’s take a look at possible reasons you may be snoring at night:

Obesity. One of the main causes for snoring could be a weight issue. When carrying around extra weight, the excess weight is putting pressure on your neck and causing an obstruction to your air flow while you sleep, causing you to snore. Losing some of the extra weight will help alleviate this issue.

Allergies. Because the typical medication for allergies is an antihistamine, and it relaxes the muscles in your throat, many allergy sufferers start to snore due to the blocked airway from the relaxed muscles.

Alcohol and sleeping pills. Similar to the allergy sufferers, because alcohol and sleeping pills relax your muscles, taking these before bedtime may cause you to snore.

Anatomy. Sometimes there isn’t anything you can do about your snoring habits – it’s just part of your anatomy. Issues like a deviated septum, enlarged tonsils or even a broken nose can block the air passages needed to breathe freely as you sleep.

If you would like more information about snoring, call Dr. Herd in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA at 949-858-5147 or visit www.gregherddds.com.

Dr. Herd proudly serves Rancho Santa Margarita and all surrounding areas.