There’s nothing better than climbing into bed with our partner at night. Everyone feels that way, right? Well, not exactly.
For some people, bedtime can be a nightmare – and not because of bad dreams. When sleeping next to a serial snorer, it can be so disruptive for you. It can be tempting to laugh it off, or even to get mad, but did you know? Snoring isn’t always just annoying – sometimes it can be a sign of a health issue.
There are a few things you can try both at home and at your dentist (such as smilogy) to change nights for the both of you.
why does my partner snore?
Snoring happens when the base of the tongue and soft palate don’t have enough room between them and they vibrate, creating sound. If snoring keeps happening, it’s important to do something about it. Ongoing snoring can sometimes be a sign of sleep apnoea.
With sleep apnoea, breathing is interrupted during sleep, which means the body may not be getting the oxygen and rest it needs. Over time, this may be linked with other health issues.
Sleep apnoea is diagnosed by a doctor, often with a sleep study. If you’re worried about your partner’s snoring, or they often seem tired during the day, encourage them to see their GP.
surviving the snoring at home
If your partner snores, you have a few options to try and improve things. We recommend:
- Having a gentle conversation about it, recognising it’s not their fault.
- Suggesting they try a different sleep position – never on their back
- Shaking them so they roll over
- Propping up their head with a pillow to open their airways
- Using a full-body pillow
- Helping them to avoid alcohol right before bed
- Waking them up, but only as a last resort
For more triggers to watch out for, read what makes snoring worse?
why should my partner see a dentist?
A lot of people don’t know this, but a dentist can help with snoring. We can create special mouthguards to help improve night-time breathing.
Using 3D scans of your partner’s teeth, we create custom oral appliances made with SomnoMed that are designed to help keep your partner’s airways open. They fit snugly, and work by pulling the jaw forward slightly to help reduce blockages. Find out more in how can dentists help with snoring?
If they’re breathing better, it can help their overall health, and yours too – when you both sleep better, everyone wins.
book their scan today
There’s nothing worse than a bad night’s sleep. Tell your partner that there’s light at the end of the tunnel: they can pop in for a quick and easy 3D scan at our Edgecliff or Castle Hill clinic.
Find out more about snoring treatment at smilogy, or book a scan at our edgecliff or castle hill clinic.
