Sleep disorders cause all sorts of problems, and they are more common than most people realize. Dr. Jennifer J. Cornell, DDS, at Dental Sleep and TMJ Solutions of Clarksville, has answers to some of the questions that come up about the conditions preventing you from getting a good night’s sleep.

Question: My husband snores, and it is so bad some nights, I have to go sleep in another room. It is starting to affect our relationship. Should I be worried about this?

Answer: Forget the honeymoon phase – many couples today are facing a far less romantic phase: sleeping in separate rooms. And it’s not because of marital strife, mismatched schedules or thermostat wars. It’s because of snoring.

Sleep divorce is real

According to a recent survey, nearly 1 in 4 couples report sleeping apart due to one partner’s disruptive snoring or nighttime breathing issues. This modern phenomenon has a name: Sleep divorce. And while it may sound like a quirky pop culture term, the emotional and relational toll is anything but trivial.

When snoring robs one partner of rest night after night, resentment builds. The exhaustion seeps into mornings, moods and eventually, intimacy. Couples stop cuddling. Conversations get shorter. Patience wears thin. Sleep becomes a solo sport instead of a shared sanctuary.

Here’s the kicker: In many cases, this entire spiral is avoidable.

When snoring is treated – not tolerated – couples can reclaim not just their rest, but their relationship. Dental sleep appliances offer a simple, non-invasive solution that can quiet the noise, restore normal breathing, and reunite bedrooms.

So if you’re on the brink of a sleep divorce (or quietly enduring one), let’s hit pause. Because better sleep doesn’t have to mean separate beds. It just means the right solution, for both of you.

Problem with over-the-counter ‘solutions’

Walk into any pharmacy and you’ll see a shelf full of so-called snoring solutions: nasal strips, chin straps, sprays, pillows shaped like medieval torture devices. The packaging promises peaceful sleep, quiet nights and happy partners. But here’s what they don’t tell you: These products might silence the sound while the real danger grows louder.

Over-the-counter aids often address the noise of snoring – not the cause. They’re designed to reduce symptoms temporarily, but they do nothing to assess or treat the underlying airway obstruction that could be slowly damaging your heart, brain and overall health.

It’s like putting duct tape over a warning light on your dashboard. You might feel better for a while, but the engine is still in trouble.

Worse, when these products appear to “work,” people assume the issue is resolved. That sense of false security delays proper diagnosis and treatment – sometimes for years. All the while, the body is enduring repeated oxygen drops, disrupted sleep cycles, and increased stress on the cardiovascular system. So while a snore strip might seem like a quick fix, it could be giving your brain – and your heart – the long-term short end of the stick.

If snoring is persistent, loud, or accompanied by gasping, pauses in breathing, or daytime fatigue, it’s time to go beyond the pharmacy aisle. It’s time for a real evaluation by a trained sleep health professional. Because your life deserves more than a Band-Aid.

Don’t wait for wake-up call

At Dental Sleep and TMJ Solutions of Clarksville, we specialize in uncovering the hidden dangers behind snoring. Through advanced airway screenings, sleep studies and customized oral appliance therapy, we’ve helped hundreds of patients reclaim their energy, relationships, and – most importantly – their health.

If you or a loved one snores, don’t shrug it off. Don’t wait for a diagnosis after a stroke or heart attack to take action.

For more information, visit the Dental Sleep and TMJ Solutions of Clarksville website or call 931-645-8000.