Why do people snore?
Snoring is the sound of air moving past relaxed tissue at the back of the throat. As you fall asleep, the muscles there relax and the airway narrows, and the soft palate and the tissue around it vibrate as you breathe.
Plenty of things make it more likely, or louder:
- Sleeping on your back, which lets the tongue fall back toward the throat.
- Alcohol in the evening, which relaxes the throat muscles further. Some sleeping pills and other medicines that make you drowsy can do the same.
- A blocked nose, from a cold or allergies, or a nose that is narrower on one side.
- Weight gain, which can narrow the airway.
- Large tonsils, especially in children.
- Smoking, which irritates the lining of the nose and throat.
Is my snoring a sign of sleep apnea?
In obstructive sleep apnea, the airway does more than narrow. It closes, over and over through the night, and breathing stops or turns very shallow until the brain rouses you enough to take a breath, often with a snort or a gasp. Most people have no memory of waking. They just feel tired.
Untreated, sleep apnea is linked with high blood pressure and other health problems. These signs are worth raising with your physician, more so when several come together:
- Loud snoring most nights, not just after a late night or during a cold.
- Pauses in breathing, choking or gasping that a partner notices.
- Sleepiness during the day, even after a full night in bed.
- Morning headaches.
- Waking with a dry mouth or a sore throat.
- Nodding off while driving. If that has happened, talk to your physician soon, and do not drive drowsy.
Who diagnoses sleep apnea?
A physician does, after a sleep study, which measures your breathing and oxygen level while you sleep, either in a sleep lab or with equipment you use at home. The results tell your physician whether you have sleep apnea, how severe it is, and which treatment fits.
A dentist does not diagnose sleep apnea, and neither does an app that records your snoring. Treatment is your physician's call too, whether that is CPAP, a machine that keeps the airway open with air pressure through a mask, or an oral appliance.
What helps with snoring at home?
For ordinary snoring, with none of the warning signs above, a few simple changes often help. If they do not, it is worth mentioning to your physician.
- Sleep on your side. A pillow behind your back can stop you rolling over.
- Leave a few hours between your last alcoholic drink and bedtime.
- If your nose is often blocked, ask your physician or pharmacist what would help. Some decongestant sprays are meant for a few days' use only.
- If the snoring started or got louder with weight gain, losing some of it often helps.
How can a dentist help with snoring?
A few signs are visible in the mouth, such as large tonsils or a crowded airway at the back of the throat, and others come up in conversation, like a partner who complains about the noise. When we notice them at a check-up in Pearisburg, we ask a few questions about your sleep. If the answers point toward sleep apnea, we will suggest you talk to your physician about a sleep study.
If your physician recommends an oral appliance, that is where we come in. It fits over your upper and lower teeth and holds the lower jaw slightly forward while you sleep, which helps keep the airway open. We check that your teeth, gums and jaw joints can support one, then make it, fit it and adjust it.
We make one only when a physician has recommended it, because a quieter night is not the same thing as treated sleep apnea. Our page on sleep apnea explains the appliance and the follow-up it needs.
Do anti-snoring mouthpieces work?
Mouthpieces sold online and in drugstores work on a similar idea, and some quiet the snoring. The trouble is that if the snoring is a sign of sleep apnea, a quieter night can leave the real problem untreated.
A device that does not fit well can also make the jaw joints sore or, over time, change how your teeth meet. So it is worth talking to your physician before you try one. If you already use one and your jaw aches or your bite feels different, tell us.
Questions patients ask
Is snoring bad for your health?
Snoring on its own is common and often harmless, though hard on whoever shares the room. With pauses in breathing, gasping or heavy daytime sleepiness, it can be a sign of sleep apnea, which is worth raising with your physician.
Why do I snore more after drinking alcohol?
Alcohol relaxes the muscles at the back of the throat, so the airway narrows more than usual. Leaving a few hours between your last drink and bedtime often helps.
Should I worry if my child snores?
Snoring with a cold is common. A child who snores most nights, breathes through the mouth, sleeps restlessly, or seems tired or irritable during the day should be checked by their pediatrician or family physician, since large tonsils and adenoids are a common cause. We see children, and we will mention it if we notice signs at a check-up.
Can an oral appliance stop snoring?
It can quiet snoring by holding the lower jaw slightly forward. We make one only when a physician recommends it, because the first question is whether the snoring is a sign of sleep apnea.