Top Causes of Snoring

Most people have snored at some point in their life. However, sometimes snoring is an indicator of a serious health condition like sleep apnea. If you’re snoring on a nightly basis, you might need an effective snoring treatment. At StarImage Dentistry in Wichita Falls we can help you stop snoring for good and finally get a quiet and restful night of sleep. Learn what the top causes of snoring are and how we can help.

One of the top causes of snoring is entirely preventable. When you carry excess weight, it can accumulate in your neck or throat and cause an obstructed airway. By exercising regularly, eating healthy, and maintaining a healthy weight, you can prevent snoring from occurring.

Once you reach middle age, it’s normal for the throat to have less muscle tone and to become narrower. This can cause you to start snoring at night if you didn’t before. One way to address this problem is by doing throat exercises, making lifestyle changes, and wearing an oral appliance. You don’t have to snore every night with the right treatment plan.

If you have a cold, allergies, deviated septum, or any other type of sinus or nasal problems, you’re likely unable to breathe through your nose while you sleep. If you can’t breathe through your nose, your body forces you to breathe through your mouth which can cause snoring. Treating your nasal and sinus problems can help you stop snoring.

There are a lot of factors that can contribute to nightly snoring. For instance, men naturally have narrower air passages than women which is why they’re more likely to snore. Other body factors that contribute to snoring include enlarged adenoids and tonsils and cleft palates. Fixing cleft palates or removing the adenoids and tonsils can resolve snoring issues.

Sleeping on your back causes the soft tissue in the throat to collapse and obstruct the airway. Simply moving your sleep position to your side can stop you from snoring.

Taking certain medications such as muscle relaxers or tranquilizers, drinking alcohol, or smoking cigarettes can all cause the throat muscles to relax at night and thus cause snoring. By not taking these medications and quitting smoking and drinking, you can stop your snoring habit.

The last common reason you might snore at night is that you have sleep apnea. If you snore on a nightly basis, wake up choking or coughing to catch your breath, feel tired throughout the day and never feel like you get a good night of sleep, you may have sleep apnea. The best way to find out is by taking a home sleep test. After a diagnosis, it’s important to find a treatment that works for you with our sleep dentist’s help.

If you think you suffer from sleep apnea or would like to learn more about our sleep apnea and snoring treatments in Wichita Falls, please contact StarImage Dentistry to schedule an appointment with one of our sleep dentists today. Please call 940-322-2252 to request an appointment.