Should I Trim My Uvula?
If you have a partner you share a bed with, you probably know that there is nothing worse than waking up in the middle of the night to loud snoring. Many of us have thrown an elbow or two in bed to quiet a snoring bedmate! If you or your partner is looking into ways to prevent snoring, you may have heard about trimming, shaving, or removing the uvula as an option. A common question we get from our patients is: should I trim my Uvula to stop snoring?
The answer is really that it depends. In some cases shaving or removing the uvula can help with snoring, but there are other ways to prevent snoring and sleep apnea as well. Contact our Lane and Associates Family Dentistry team at 1-877-LANE-DDS to speak to a sleep dentist specialist about your options, or visit our sleep apnea page for more information. You can also read on for more information about what causes snoring and whether trimming the uvula can help!
How does the uvula affect snoring?
Your uvula is that teardrop shaped piece of tissue that hangs down in the back of your throat, looking like a small punching bag. So, how is the uvula related to snoring? Well, when you sleep, your uvula vibrates. If your uvula is large enough, it can vibrate so much that you begin to snore. In more severe cases, it can flap over your actual airway and inhibit your breathing, causing Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Therefore, removing the uvula can sometimes be helpful in preventing snoring and sleep apnea. This procedure is referred to as a uvulectomy. In some cases it is recommended to prevent snoring, but if you have sleep apnea there are other options as well.
Will removing my uvula cure sleep apnea?
A uvulectomy is one of the potential recommended treatments for sleep apnea, but there are other options! One of the most well known treatments for sleep apnea is the C-PAP machine, but there are other alternatives! We are proud to offer alternatives to sleep apnea treatment such as the Dorsal and Herbst-EMA (Elastic Mandibular Advancement). Get more information about these options to stop snoring and sleep apnea on our sleep medicine page.
Want to stop snoring? Suffering from Sleep Apnea? Call Lane and Associates!
Don’t let snoring and sleep apnea at night ruin your day. If you are curious about trimming or removing your uvula to help prevent snoring, talk to our Lane and Associates sleep dentistry team and explore all your options. Contact our team today at 1-877-LANE-DDS or request an appointment here online to speak to one of our expert dentists. We can’t wait to make you smile!
