SCOTTS VALLEY, SANTA CRUZ, CA
Sleep divorce is a coined term meaning couples that sleep in separate beds. Many couples sleep apart because one or both partners snore loudly, which disrupts their loved one’s sleep. It’s become a popular term, and the internet highlights many articles on sleep divorce. However, these articles don’t tell you how to put an end to or prevent sleep divorce. So today on the blog, our airway dentists in Scotts Valley at Ebrahimian Integrative Dentistry share how to avoid sleep divorce in your marriage.
First, let’s look at what causes snoring
Snoring is caused by an airway restriction in your airways while sleeping. It’s the most common sleep apnea symptom. In many cases, the person sleeps with their mouth open as the lower jaw and tongue slide back, causing soft tissue in the throat to collapse. Air seeps past the blockage, vibrating the soft tissue, which causes the infamous snoring sound. In severe cases, the person experiences airway blockages that cause them to take loud gasps of air or make choking sounds in an attempt to breathe. These apneic episodes awaken the brain from the REM sleep cycle, which is the deepest stage of sleep, interrupting sleep dozens or more times a night. Unfortunately, these loud noises, including snoring, often wake or disturb their partner’s sleep as well.
Why snoring is dangerous for your health
Snoring has significant health consequences. When sleep apnea remains untreated, the body isn’t getting enough oxygenation in the blood, and bodily organs like the heart and brain could suffer. Research shows a correlation between untreated sleep apnea and an increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, and dementia. So, while you and your partner may get a sleep divorce in hopes of sleeping better, you’re both really just putting a band-aid over the problem. Depriving your body of oxygen and sleep eventually takes its toll on your health. If your body wasn’t getting enough hydration, what would you do? If bloodwork from your doctor’s office revealed you had vitamin deficiencies, would you ignore their recommendation to treat the problem? Probably not. Therefore, we encourage you to get help if you snore because your body lacks enough air and sleep.
Preventing sleep divorce in your marriage
If you and your spouse sleep separately because one or both of you snore, put an end to your sleep divorce by getting screened for sleep apnea. At Ebrahimian Integrative Dentistry, our dentists in Scotts Valley that treat sleep apnea can conduct an airway assessment to determine if you could benefit from an official sleep study. If it is determined that you have sleep apnea, we can help. Mild to moderate sleep apnea can be managed by wearing a custom-made oral appliance that slightly readjusts your lower jaw, relieving the airway blockage. Couples appreciate the many benefits of oral appliance therapy compared to a CPAP machine because it isn’t noisy, it’s discreet, and it won’t disturb their partner’s sleep. Oral appliance therapy is effective and is becoming a popular treatment for sleep apnea because of its many benefits.
Anti-Snoring Treatment in Scotts Valley, Los Gatos, and Santa Cruz
If you snore or have other symptoms of sleep apnea, you deserve a restful night’s sleep alongside your partner. To learn more about anti-snoring appliances in Scotts Valley or schedule a sleep apnea screening in Los Gatos, call Ebrahimian Integrative Dentistry at (831) 438-4411 or visit our website to learn more.
