It seems like there are always new nuisances to flying. There’s the shrinking legroom, the inability to lean back (or the ability of those in front of you to lean back), and a constantly shifting schedule of fees that seems to charge you for something new every day.
But what do you do when it turns out that you’ve become somebody else’s nuisance when you fly? Have people told you that you snore when you sleep on a plane? This is a potentially serious discovery. But the good news is that there are comfortable, convenient, and discreet ways to treat your snoring on a plane.
Snoring on a Plane Is a Bad Sign
Snoring occurs when your airway narrows. Normally, there are multiple factors that lead to this happening. When you lie down at night, gravity pulls your airway closed. Sleeping on your back means that gravity is pulling your tongue into the airway. And then when you fall asleep, your muscles relax, allowing your airway to collapse even more.
If you’re snoring on a plane, it’s a sign that the problem is serious. When you’re sitting upright on a plane, gravity isn’t pulling your airway closed so directly. It’s not pulling your tongue directly back across your airway, either. And your muscles are relaxing, but, as you probably know, it’s not the same as deep sleep in a bed.
Snoring on a plane is a sign that you’re very likely to have sleep apnea Sleep apnea is when your airway doesn’t just narrow at night, it actually closes. That cuts off your air, forcing you to awaken slightly. Although you may not notice it, you may actually wake up hundreds of times a night. If dozing on a plane is enough to make you snore, then actually sleeping in a bed is very likely to lead to sleep apnea.
Treatment Can Be Easy
But as serious as snoring on a plane can be, there’s an easy treatment option. Oral appliance therapy is portable–you just put it in your pocket. And they’re easy to put in: just open your mouth and slide them in.
An oral appliance works by repositioning your jaw. Since your jaw is the main bony support structure for your tongue and throat, this holds your airway open, allowing you to breathe more easily. And if you get a little nudge, your appliance is easily adjustable so you can get the exact setting that lets you and those around you sleep in peace.
Even if you find that you prefer another treatment for sleep apnea at home, an oral appliance is a great way to deal with snoring while you travel.
To learn more about this convenient way to deal with snoring anytime and anywhere, please call (402) 493-4175 today for an appointment with an Omaha sleep dentist at the Advanced Dental Sleep Treatment Center.
