6 Common Overlooked Causes of Snoring

Okemos, Lansing, East Lansing MI

Snoring is a common sleep condition that can affect adults and children alike. While it may seem harmless, it can disrupt your partner’s sleep, interfere with your sleep cycle, and even lead to more serious health problems. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to help ease the snoring problem—and Dr. Christine Tenaglia, a sleep apnea dentist in Okemos, shares those tips with you today!

1. Getting older

You get older, and your throat muscles get less elastic, which can lead to snoring and sleep apnea (a condition where the airway gets blocked repeatedly while you’re sleeping). As a result, you may at risk for snoring. Unfortunately, snoring is much more serious than just disrupting everyone else’s sleep. It actually means that your body is deprived of air that is needed to rejuvenate and restore the body.

2. Being overweight or obese

Being overweight is not the only factor contributing to snoring, but it is a major one. If you are overweight or obese, there is more tissue in your throat and airways that can vibrate during sleep, causing you to snore. In addition, extra body fat around the neck area may contribute to the narrowing of your airway as well. If you are overweight and want to reduce your snoring problem naturally without surgery or medications (which we’ll discuss below), then try losing some weight!

3. Not sleeping on your side

You can stop snoring by sleeping on your side. It’s the best way to prevent sleep apnea, the most common cause of snoring.

Remember that sleeping on your back can contribute to snoring. You should avoid lying flat on your back for more than 30 minutes at a time during sleep.

Sleeping with a pillow under the head is another common culprit, as it increases neck flexion by relaxing muscles in the throat — both leading causes of snoring. If you like pillows while sleeping, keep in mind that it may be better for you to use two thinner ones instead of one thick one if possible (or even none at all).

4. Being a mouth breather

Mouth breathing can lead to snoring.

When you’re a mouth breather, your tongue relaxes and falls back into your throat. This causes the soft palate to relax and collapse. As you doze off at night, this relaxed tissue vibrates as air passes through it, which leads to snoring.

Mouth breathing can cause dry mouth.

Mouth-breathing can also cause dry mouth by exposing more of the tongue surface area than normal breathing does. This drier environment is perfect for bacteria growth! In fact, some studies have found that people who breathe through their mouths are more likely to develop gum disease or tooth decay than those who breathe normally through both nose and mouth during sleep. Mouth breathing can lead to tooth decay. The bacteria responsible for halitosis (bad breath) live on the surface of our tongues where they break down food debris into acids that dissolve tooth enamel—which means over time they might be able to destroy all of your teeth! If you think you’re suffering from bad breath but aren’t sure if it’s caused by something else like stomach acid reflux or poor oral health habits like neglecting regular dental checkups, then see a doctor right away because untreated bad breath often leads not only chronic infections but also other serious conditions such as sleep apnea.

5. Nasal congestion or allergies

Nasal congestion is a common cause of snoring, and may be caused by allergies, a deviated septum (a crooked nose), or even a cold. If you have any of these issues, try treating them first before pursuing more drastic solutions like surgery.

6. Alcohol consumption

Alcohol is a depressant, which means it slows down your body. When you’re relaxed, snoring tends to be worse. In fact, drinking alcohol regularly can make it difficult to fall asleep at all.

While alcohol isn’t known for being particularly healthy (or good for your quality of life), research has found that drinking heavily could increase the risk of developing obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). This severe type of snoring happens when the soft tissues in the throat collapse or become blocked during sleep—causing breathing problems that prevent you from getting enough oxygen when you need it most.

Have you ever woken yourself up with your own snoring? Don’t worry, it happens to the best of us! However, if the problem persists, it is worth investigating the cause so that you can enjoy a better night’s sleep for yourself and those around you. If you have any questions or concerns about snoring, please contact our Okemos sleep apnea dentist today.

Snoring is a symptom and not a disease itself; however, it is often associated with other health problems such as sleep apnea or sleep deprivation (i.e., not getting enough rest). Our Okemos dentist offers treatment options for both conditions through dental appliances like mandibular advancement devices. This appliance gently moves your jaw forward during sleep which in turn increases airflow through your nose and reduces snoring.

Sleep Apnea Screening and Treatment in Okemos, Lansing, and East Lansing

There are many things that can cause snoring, but all of them can be easily treated. If you’ve ever woken yourself up with your own snoring, don’t worry! It happens to the best of us, and it’s a normal part of life. However, if this is something that continues on a regular basis, then you should consider scheduling an appointment at our Okemos sleep apnea dentist office today so we can help identify and address any underlying issues causing your sleep problems. Call Tenaglia Smiles at (517) 347-6733 to schedule an appointment.