Snoring is a sign and symptom of a sleep related breathing disorder. Ideally, you should be breathing quietly and through the nose with an open airway.
Snoring means an airway obstruction.
This obstruction causes you to not receive adequate oxygen while sleeping, which messes with the regular sleep cycles, and causes chronic inflammation overtime at a cellular level.
What Causes Snoring?
Outside of the occasional cold, allergies, etc., chronic snoring is due to underdeveloped jaws.
This is an increasing pandemic in developed countries since the industrial revolution.
Jaw sizes continue to shrink with each generation, largely due to the westernized diet. However, the tongue and teeth are staying the same size. This leaves less room for the tongue, which is then forced back and obstructs the airway.
Risks of Sleep Related Breathing Disorders
Cardiovascular Disease
Dementia
Lack of Nitric Oxide
Cavities
Gum Disease
Digestive Issues
Chronic Fatigue
Headaches
Chronic Sore Throat
High Blood Pressure
ADD/ADHD
Diabetes
Cancer
& more
Other Signs of a Sleep Related Breathing Disorder
Snoring
Mouth Breathing
Black circles under eyes
Blood Shot eyes
Noisy breather
Bedwetting (primarily applies to children)
Hyperactivity and ADD/ADHD
Daytime sleepiness
Forward head posture (shoulders rolled forward)
Large tongue
Bruxism (teeth grinding)
TMJ pain/dysfunction
Day time sleepiness and fatigue
Headaches
Brain fog and/or difficulty concentrating/ ADD/ADHD
Frequent night-time awakenings
Waking up from sleep gasping for air
Restless sleep
Restless leg syndrome
What Can You Do to Stop Snoring?
CPAP MACHINE
CPAP machines open up the airway by sending a steady flow of pressurized air into your nose and mouth as you sleep. They do not solve the underlying problem, but they can be life saving to those who aren’t ready, or able, to move forward with a more permanent solution.
MOUTH TAPING
Mouth taping is simply laying a piece of specialized tape over your lips to keep your mouth closed while you sleep and encourage nasal breathing. Depending on the severity of one’s sleep breathing disorder this may not be adequate enough and/or come with some risks, so it’s always best to consult with your holistic airway sleep dentist first.
Mandibular Advancement Devices (MADs)
MADs work by temporarily moving the jaw and tongue forward while sleeping, which reduces airway obstruction by increasing airway space.
Orthopedic Remodeling Devices (Expansion)
This is a more definitive option that can get down to solving the underlying problem. These devices (under the care of a holistic airway dentist) gradually expand the upper and/or lower jaws - allowing more room for the tongue and teeth, causing the airway to be less restricted.
Many of these devices are FDA approved and worn like an orthodontic retainer. They can improve smiles, crowded teeth, correct maxilla-mandibular underdevelopment in children and adults, widen nasal passages, and treat the root cause of sleep apnea, teeth grinding, TMJ disorder, and more.
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