Snoring is a respiratory sound generated in the upper airway that typically occurs during inspiration but may also occur during expiration. The noise results from the soft palate and uvula vibrating against the back of the throat or the base of the tongue during sleep. Snoring may awaken the patient from sleep, but many people are only aware that they snore because it disturbs their bed partner.

Snoring is the cardinal symptom of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), but when it occurs in the absence of OSA (as determined by a sleep study), it is called primary snoring. Approximately 67% of adults snore, and this number continues to rise as the factors that cause snoring remain prevalent in our population.

During normal breathing, air passes through the nose and mouth and inward into your lungs, moving past soft, flexible structures where the mouth meets the throat: the soft palate, uvula, tonsils, and back of the tongue. When these air passages are wide enough to let air flow freely, you breathe normally, and throat muscles hold these structures in place. While you sleep, the throat muscles relax a bit. But they normally stay tight enough to keep the airway open.

A number of factors may contribute to snoring, including the following:

  • Sleeping on your back
  • Difficulty with nasal breathing
  • Obesity
  • Enlarged soft tissues in the throat area
  • Small lower jaw
  • Certain medications and alcohol consumption
  • Cigarette smoke and other irritants

The following strategies may be helpful to reduce snoring:

  • Sleeping on your side
  • Normalize your weight
  • Relieve nasal congestion
  • Avoid alcohol or sleeping pills within four hours of bedtime

Additionally, certain medical and dental treatments are helpful to minimize snoring:

  • Oral appliance therapy
    • Certain oral appliances help to reduce snoring by positioning the lower jaw slightly forward in order to prevent snoring throughout the night
  • Positional device
    • Many people only snore when sleeping on their back (supine position). For these people, there are a number of treatment strategies used to prevent supine sleep position
  • Surgery
    • Several surgical approaches targeting the site of airway obstruction can be used to reduce snoring