What Causes Snoring?
Snoring is a common, and noisy, concern for people of all ages and genders. Often thought of as a minor annoyance, snoring actually can be a sign of serious medical problems. The cause of snoring can reveal whether an individual is experiencing a harmless case of boisterous breathing or something more worrisome. Our extensively trained dentists explain how snoring happens and what can be done to prevent it:
The sound you hear when someone snores is the oral and nasal tissues vibrating as air passes in and out. If there is a narrowing of the airway, or a blockage, this can cause even more noise. The greater the blockage or narrowing, the louder the noise usually will be. Occasional snoring is often normal and nothing to worry about; however, more regular snoring or particularly loud snoring may be a sign of a condition called sleep apnoea.
Sleep apnoea is a disorder in which the patient experiences periodic pauses in breathing during sleep—sometimes several hundred times in a night. This can happen as a result of a narrowed passageway or airway blockage, often caused by relaxed oral tissues. The stopping and starting can lead to a number of serious medical problems, including fatigue, depression, stroke, heart disease, and sudden cardiac death. For these reasons it’s important for anyone who snores to be evaluated to determine the cause of the issue.
If you or a loved one suffers from snoring, talk to our team today to learn more about getting a sleep apnoea evaluation. We offer a range of treatments that can help you achieve a more restful, and healthy, night’s sleep.
