Causes of Snoring

Snoring is the harsh sound you hear when a snorer inhales during sleep. The noise occurs when the soft palate and uvula vibrate against the back of the throat or the base of the tongue.

As you fall asleep, the soft tissues at the back of the throat, the muscles that line the airway, and the tongue muscle all relax. As this occurs, the tongue drops back into the airway which causes it to narrow. As air passes through this narrower airway, it moves faster and causes the tissues to vibrate against each other, which creates a rattling or snoring sound.

As the air passage continues to narrow, pressure increases in the airway and snoring becomes louder.

The three primary causes of narrowing of the air passage are:

Larger soft tissue size,
Increased relaxation of the soft tissues, and
Increased resistance in the airway.

Site designed and hosted by AdLIB Design

Snoring & Sleep Apnea Dental Treatment Center
7225 Ohms Lane, Suite 180
Edina, MN 55439
952-345-0290