Snoring
Snoring is caused by the vibration of your tongue, mouth, throat or airways in your noseas you breathe. It happens because these parts of your body relax and narrow when you’re asleep.
You’re more likely to snore if you:
- Are overweight
- Smoke
- Drink too much alcohol
Sometimes it’s caused by a condition like sleep apnoea, which is when your airways become temporarily blocked as you sleep.
Snoring can be a result of a combination of factors:
- A large tongue
- A long soft palate
- Excess fat deposits in the throat area
- Large tonsils
- Incorrect jaw position
- Nasal passageway obstruction
- Sleeping on your back causing the tongue to drop to the back of the mouth
Seeing your GP would be the first step to diagnose sleep apnoea, but treatment could well then be through a dentist. At High Locks we can make a specialist mandibular advancement device (such as the Sleepwell appliance). This is a bespoke mouth guard that fits comfortably over your teeth but holds the lower jaw and tongue forward, preventing the temporary collapse of the soft tissues at the back of your mouth. This in turn can open up your airway and help prevent snoring.
Frequently asked questions:
It is worth noting that although these devices can be bought over the counter or online they will then not fit properly and so they will either be ineffective or uncomfortable and are likely to be a waste of money. A dental practice would take an impression of your mouth to create a bespoke device that fits correctly. A dental surgery would also be able to factor in any other complications such as misalignment of teeth and create a mandibular advancement device that is suitable.
Sleep apnoea is when your breathing stops and starts while you sleep. The most common type is called obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). Symptoms of sleep apnoea mainly happen while you sleep.
They include:
- Breathing stopping and starting
- Making gasping, snorting or choking noises
- Waking up multiple times during the night
- Loud snoring
