What Causes Snoring?

If you curse the alarm clock every morning after a night of restless sleep and snoring, you're not alone. Read on to learn more about what causes snoring, why snoring may mean you're not getting good sleep, and how we can help!

Believe it or not, just about everyone snores occasionally. However, if you’re shared a bed (or a house!) with someone whose snoring is chronic, you know that snoring can range from a small annoyance to an outright nuisance. Today, our team at Sleep Easy Dentistry wants to give you some insight into what causes snoring.

Why Does Snoring Have That Sound?
Snoring occurs when air cannot move freely between your nose and throat as you sleep. This causes surrounding tissue to vibrate and produce that snore sound. For many people, their anatomy is the culprit behind their snoring: some folks have more tissue in their throat and nose. Others have their breathing obstructed by their tongue.  When air cannot efficiently move throat your throat and nose, snoring results.
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Common Causes of Snoring
Age
It’s no secret that your body changes as you age. For many people, their throat becomes narrower over time. Muscle tone also decreases, making you more likely to snore. 

Lifestyle
For some folks, their lifestyle habits may be the reason behind the snoring. Smokers are prone to snoring as the habit can cause the throat to relax, leading to snoring. For other people, losing weight and increasing muscle tone may help reduce snoring.

Sleep Apnea
Not only can snoring lead to fatigue and irritability, it may be an indicator of a serious underlying health problem. People with sleep apnea often snore, they also experience breathing interruptions throughout the night. If you snore heavily, choke or gasp while asleep, or are fatigued throughout the day despite sleeping through the night, you may be experiencing sleep apnea.

 If you or a loved believe your snoring is disrupting a good night’s sleep, Dr. Osborne and our team may be able to help with one of our custom-made oral appliances. To ask us any questions or schedule a free consultation, call our office today!