If you look back at what flying was like in the past, it seems like an excess of luxury. There is so much room, so many amenities, and everyone seems to be so happy. Today, flying is a lot more of a nuisance. Not only are you more crowded in, you get fewer perks when you fly, and there’s a fee for basically anything.
The last thing any of us wants to be is another nuisance to our fellow passengers. That’s why it can be really embarrassing to be caught snoring on the airplane. More than that, snoring on the plane is a really bad sign for your health.
Fortunately, there are easy snoring treatments that can help you sleep silently on the plane. They’re discreet, comfortable, easy to use, and they can save your life. Plus, your neighbor won’t be “accidentally” elbowing you all through the flight.
Snoring on a Plane Is a Bad Sign
If you are snoring on the plane, there are more reasons to find a remedy than just the embarrassment. When you snore on the plane, it’s likely a sign that you have obstructive sleep apnea. Here’s why.
Snoring is caused by a narrowed airway that makes it hard for air to travel through. This occurs when you sleep in bed because gravity pulls down on the soft tissues of your throat, including your tongue, causing them to fall down and back into the airway. Sleep makes your muscles relax, so they sag even more.
But sleeping on the plane is different. You’re mostly upright (even more than in the past with the limited recline of modern seats). And you’re relaxed, but usually not as much as you are at home–it’s not your deepest sleep. So if you’re snoring on a plane, it probably means that your airway is highly prone to collapse.
And if your airway is prone to collapse, it’s more likely that you have sleep apnea. Sleep apnea occurs when your airways doesn’t just get narrow, it closes completely. You’re being choked by your own throat! Sleep apnea can be a potentially deadly condition that should be diagnosed and treated as soon as possible.
Treatment Can Be Easy
Of course, if you think you might have sleep apnea, you may be afraid that the treatment is a bulky CPAP machine. And that’s no good for use on an airplane. Not only is the embarrassment of using it as bad as being caught snoring, but your neighbor may be annoyed by the sound of the pump.
Fortunately, there’s an easy treatment that can stop your snoring and even treat your sleep apnea without hassle. Oral appliance therapy is a treatment option that works by repositioning your jaw so that your airway stays open. You’ll breathe easy, not snore loudly.
And oral appliances are discreet for use on the plane. They are about the size of a sports mouthguard, so they fit in your pocket. You can then simply slip it in if you are planning to sleep on the plane. No one needs to know. If they look at you, they may only notice your strongly jutting chin.
Are you tired of being a nuisance on every flight? Let us help. Please call (248) 480-0085 today for an appointment with a Detroit area sleep dentist at the Michigan Center for TMJ & Sleep Wellness in Rochester Hills.
