Snoring Treatment
What is snoring?
Snoring occurs when airflow through the mouth and nose is partially obstructed during sleep, causing tissues in the throat and mouth to vibrate.
Snoring isn’t just a disruptive sound; it also significantly degrades sleep quality, leads to fatigue, and may even signal more serious underlying health issues. If chronic snoring affects you or a loved one, seeking professional help is crucial. Our expert team offers comprehensive services to diagnose and treat snoring, enabling you and your family to enjoy better sleep.
Nearly 44% of men and 28% of women snore regularly. However, according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, the prevalence may be even higher, with around 70% of people who share a bed reporting that their partner snores.
What causes snoring?
Snoring is the result of partial obstruction of airflow through the mouth and nose during sleep. This obstruction causes the tissues in the throat and mouth to vibrate, resulting in the familiar snoring sound. Several factors can contribute to snoring, including:
Anatomy of Your Mouth and Throat
Factors such as a low, thick, soft palate, enlarged tonsils, or a long uvula can narrow your airway, contributing to snoring if your throat is narrow
Age
With age, the throat tends to narrow and become less elastic, while muscle tone in the throat decreases.
Alcohol Consumption
Alcohol relaxes throat muscles, which can exacerbate snoring if consumed too close to bedtime.
Jaw Alignment
The alignment of your jaws can impact the openness of your airway during sleep. An overbite or underbite may affect snoring patterns.
Nasal Congestion
Blocked nasal passages can lead to forceful breathing through the mouth. Chronic nasal congestion or a deviated septum (when the wall between your nostrils is off-center) can contribute to snoring.
Obesity or Excess Weight
Excess tissues around the neck area can narrow the airway, increasing the likelihood of collapse and contributing to snoring.
Sleep Position
Sleeping on your back may cause your tongue to roll backward into your throat, potentially narrowing the airway.
Sleep Deprivation
Insufficient sleep prevents your body from entering restorative sleep stages. This lack of deep, quality sleep can lead to weakened muscles around your throat and airway, often contributing to snoring.
Structural Abnormalities
A deviated septum, enlarged tonsils, or an elongated soft palate can all contribute to snoring.
Smoking
Smoking irritates the mucous membranes, causing throat swelling and reducing airway diameter, which can contribute to snoring.
How is snoring diagnosed?
Understanding the root cause of your snoring is crucial for effective treatment. At ZapZzz Sleep Care Clinic, we provide a thorough evaluation to diagnose the underlying factors contributing to your snoring.
- Physical Examination
Assess your throat, nose, and mouth for any structural abnormalities.
- Medical History Review
Assessing your lifestyle, habits, and medical background
- Sleep Studies
Monitoring your breathing, heart rate, and brain activity during sleep to detect underlying medical conditions such as sleep apnea.
How can our sleep clinic help?
Seeking professional assistance from a sleep clinic can substantially enhance your quality of life. Our clinic conducts a comprehensive evaluation of your sleep and breathing patterns. Based on the findings, we tailor effective treatment recommendations to meet your specific needs.
How is snoring treated, and is there a cure?
At ZapZzz, we provide a variety of snoring treatment options tailored to address each patient’s individual needs.
- Lifestyle Changes
Adopting healthier habits such as weight loss, smoking cessation, reducing alcohol intake, and adjusting sleep position can significantly reduce snoring.
- Oral Appliances
Custom-fitted devices worn during sleep that adjust the position of the jaw and tongue to keep the airway open.
- Combination Therapy
For comprehensive snoring management, a combination of treatments may be necessary, including lifestyle adjustments and oral appliances.
MEET YOUR QUALITY SLEEP TEAM
Chronic snoring can be challenging, but you don’t have to face it alone. Our team of sleep specialists at The ZapZzz is dedicated to crafting a personalized treatment plan that fits your needs. Contact us today to schedule an appointment and take the first step toward achieving a more restful night’s sleep.
Frequently Asked Questions About Snoring Treatment
Snoring happens when there is a partial obstruction of airflow through the mouth and nose during sleep, causing vibrations in the tissues of the throat and mouth. Primary contributing factors include obesity, alcohol consumption, smoking, nasal congestion, sleep position, and structural abnormalities.
Not always. While snoring is a common symptom of sleep apnea, it can also occur on its own. A sleep study is an effective method to determine the presence of sleep apnea.
Absolutely. Chronic snoring can disrupt sleep quality, leading to daytime fatigue, irritability, and an elevated risk of conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke. Managing snoring is essential for maintaining optimal health
Absolutely! Lifestyle adjustments such as weight loss, quitting smoking, reducing alcohol consumption, and altering your sleep position can greatly reduce snoring for many individuals
Absolutely. Oral appliances are specifically tailored for comfort and effectiveness. They adjust the position of the jaw and tongue to keep the airway open, which can reduce snoring and enhance sleep quality. t reversible, but it is treatable. If some gingivitis is not treated, it will lead into periodontitis.
Surgery may be an option in severe cases of snoring when other treatments have not provided relief. It typically involves the removal of excess tissue or correction of structural abnormalities in the mouth and throat.
A sleep study usually spans just one night. During this time, your breathing, heart rate, brain activity, and other vital signs will be closely monitored to diagnose any sleep disorders, including the root causes of your snoring.
Oral appliances are generally safe and widely accepted. However, some users may experience minor side effects like jaw discomfort, dry mouth, or temporary changes in bite alignment. These issues can typically be managed by adjusting the appliance as needed.
At ZapZzz, we treat our patients like family. Patient care is our number one priority.