Snoring is a hallmark symptom of obstructive sleep apnea. Extremely loud, chronic snoring is especially problematic and characteristic of severe apnea.
While not all cases of heavy snoring are the result of apnea, many apnea treatments are equally effective in diminishing or even stopping your snoring altogether.
What Causes Snoring?
In the case of obstructive sleep apnea, the buzz saw sound you hear when someone is snoring results from pressurized air trying to force its way through a narrow space.
This causes severe friction and vibration of the throat tissues, which is what produces the sound of snoring.
Some snoring, however, is caused by other factors. These can include:
Mouth Anatomy| The structure of your soft palate can narrow your airway. An elongated uvula can also lead to snoring sounds.
Alcohol Consumption| Snoring can happen after consuming too much alcohol immediately before sleep. This is because alcohol relaxes throat muscles while decreasing your body’s ability to quickly employ natural defenses against breathing problems.
Nasal Problems| This category includes both chronic congestion and a deviated nasal septum. Both result in narrowed airways, which causes vibration and friction while trying to breathe.
Sleep Position| Snoring is generally louder and more regular when sleeping on your back. This is due to gravity pulling against the relaxed throat tissues, narrowing them even further.
Oral Appliances
Oral appliances are one of the most common—and most effective—treatments for obstructive sleep apnea. Due to the way they function, oral appliances are often highly successful at reducing snoring, even in cases not caused by apnea.
An oral appliance looks essentially like a mouthguard, much like any you might see at a sporting event. It functions very similarly, too, as it keeps the teeth, tongue, and jaw from damaging each other or moving out of position.
How Do They Work?
An oral appliance pulls both the jaw and tongue forward just a little bit, and it keeps them safely there throughout the night. This slight relocation of the mouth’s position helps keep airways from collapsing. An oral appliance can also keep the tongue from slipping back too far into the path of your breath.
There is one way, however, in which an oral appliance is very much different from a standard sporting mouthguard: it is custom-crafted to specifically fit you.
When we receive your apnea results, we can help determine just how much adjustment your jaw needs. On top of that, we will match the shape of the appliance to the specific shape of your mouth.
It will be comfortable. It will fit. Most of all, it will help reduce your snoring by keeping your airways open.
Improve Your Snoring Today!
If you snore chronically, whether due to sleep apnea or some other cause, talk to us today about an oral appliance treatment. We’re here to help you get your restful nights back!