Does your partner snore? Or do they complain that you snore? If so, you’re not alone. Forty percent of adult men and 24 percent of adult women snore. It’s not just problematic for your partner who is trying to sleep – it’s also a problem for you.
So, if you’ve gotten complaints about your nose noise, you may be interested in finding a solution to silence the problem. You may be tempted to purchase products such as nasal strips that hold your nasal passages open at night or wearable sleep orthotics to prop your jaw open. But, before making any purchases, you should probably talk to Dr. Konig, as some of these items could cause more harm than good.
This is because some over-the-counter mouth guards for snoring simply mask an underlying condition such as a sleep disorder like obstructive sleep apnea. All the nasal strips in the world will not get to the heart of the matter if this is the case.
Other over-the-counter treatments can cause additional problems for your health. Specifically, the mouth guards that you purchase at the drug store can increase the chance that you could develop temporomandibular joint dysfunction, or TMJD.
Temporomandibular joint dysfunction affects the jaw joints and frequently develops when these joints somehow get out of alignment. This can happen with time, injury or because of a poorly aligned bite.
TMJD can cause your jaw to hurt with movement, feel stiff or even lock open and closed. Many people living with TMJD also experience headaches, ringing in the ears, and pain in the neck, shoulders and back.
How Over-the-Counter Mouth Guards Contribute to TMJD
Over-the-counter mouth guards contribute to the development of TMJD because they push the jaws out of alignment to attempt to compensate for the snoring.
Over time, the joint becomes severely damaged, and you end up in pain.
So, if you’re regularly snoring, the first thing you should do is call your doctor or dentist and discuss your symptoms. Your provider may suggest a sleep study based on your symptoms and overall health.
If you are diagnosed with a sleep condition, such as sleep apnea, an oral appliance may benefit you – but not one purchased over-the-counter. Custom-fit sleep appliances are incredibly beneficial for those living with sleep disorders and won’t cause additional problems for your jaw.
Are you snoring all night long? Give us a call at 713-668-2289 to schedule a consultation today.
