It seems as though everyone has advice about snoring treatments. Even if you don’t ask them, when people find out you snore, they are quick to recommend a few possible treatments. Of course, not all snoring treatments are created equally. Not every folk remedy or option actually does much to help snoring. Or, if a treatment helps one person enjoy a quieter night’s sleep, it won’t necessarily help everyone. Fortunately, there are several treatments that are tried and tested and can actually help you stop snoring at night.
3 Snoring Treatments
Losing Weight
Losing weight can be an effective treatment for snoring, especially if your snoring started after you put on a few pounds. One of the causes of snoring can be excess tissue in the neck area, which puts pressure on the airways, narrowing them. When your airways are narrow, it’s more difficult to get air in and out, leading to the rattling sound associated with snoring.
For some people, losing weight can be easier said than done. That’s why it can be helpful to work with a surgeon who specializes in sinus and allergy treatments to come up with an effective plan for losing weight, to reduce snoring.
Often, a weight loss plan involves reducing the calories you take in and making an effort to exercise more. Cutting out foods and drinks that contain a lot of sugar, salt, starches and high-calorie fats can help you effectively reduce the amount of calories you eat per day. Adding more fruits and vegetables to your diet helps you feel fuller, without eating a lot of calories, so that you eat less overall.
Replacing foods that have a lot of calories with lower calories options helps simplify weight loss. For example, if you usually drink juice or soda, switch to water, which as no calories. You can try seltzer or sparkling water if plain water is too boring.
Exercise is usually part of a weight loss plan, but because you can do more harm than good if you suddenly start working out after being sedentary for so long, it’s a good idea to check with your doctor before you hit the gym and come up with an exercise plan that gets you used to moving slowly and without the risk for injury.
Although there are seemingly quick ways to drop pounds, such as going on a juice diet or otherwise severely restricting your calories, the best way to lose weight and keep it off is to take the slow and steady approach.
Oral Appliances
Another effective treatment for snoring involves repositioning the lower jaw to open the airway. Your doctor can fit you with an oral appliance, which you wear at night, while you sleep, to gently hold the jaw in the right position. The appliance keeps your airway open, that you can breathe easier, and quieter.
There are some drawbacks to using an oral appliance as a snoring treatment. The devices take some getting used to, for one thing. It’s common for people to have a build-up of saliva in their mouths overnight when wearing the appliances. The excess saliva production requires more swallowing during sleep, which can be disruptive for some people.
The appliances can also be uncomfortable for people to wear, at least at first. For some people, the discomfort is enough to cause them to quit using the devices quickly.
It’s important that an oral appliance for treating snoring be properly fitted to a person’s mouth, too. A device that doesn’t fit well can cause damage to the teeth and jaw joints. If you’re considering using an appliance to help treat your snoring, see your doctor to have one custom fit to your mouth, instead of picking one up at the drugstore.
Surgery
If your snoring is severe and doesn’t respond to other treatments, your doctor might recommend surgery to reduce the amount of tissue in the airway, allowing air to pass through with more ease. One surgical option is uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, or UPPP, which can involve the removal of the adenoids and tonsils, as well as the uvula and part of the soft palate.
Recovery after UPPP takes a few weeks. One of the major drawbacks of recovery is that it can be difficult to swallow as the area heals. It’s common for the throat to be sore afterwards. Other complications from UPPP include a change in the sound of the voice, trouble sleeping and nasal congestion.
There’s also a laser version of UPPP, which uses laser light to reduce the size of tissues in the airway. Often, people undergoing laser UPPP need a series of treatments before they see effective results.
About Dr. Rubinstein
Dr. Rubinstein has nearly sixteen years of experience helping patients in the Hudson Valley. A board certified facial plastic surgeon, he has extensive knowledge of laser procedures, facial plastic surgery, and nasal and sinus treatments, which allow him to improve aesthetics as well as functionality of the facial features. Dr. Rubinstein received his board certifications through the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the American Board of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery. To learn more about your snoring treatment options, schedule an appointment with Dr. Rubinstein at the Hudson Valley Sinus Center, call 845-562-6673.