Types Of Snoring And Solutions, Why Do We Snore?
Snoring is the bane of every partner’s life, and it can get so bad that it wakes the person snoring up. But why do we snore?
Nose snoring happens due to obstructed nasal passages, while mouth snoring happens when tissues in the mouth vibrate. There’s also tongue-based snoring and throat-based snoring, each with different solutions.
This article explores the reasons behind snoring with solutions, helping you tackle the issue with excellent results.
Let’s jump in!
Types Of Snoring And Solutions
Nose snorers
Nose snoring is a symptom of blocked nostrils and congested nasal passages.
These can collapse or tighten in different sleeping positions, or allergies, colds, or flu can cause them. The solution, in any case, is to free the nasal passage.
We snore in our sleep instead of when we’re awake because lying down places more stress on the nasal passage, making it close.
Here are the best solutions for nose snoring:
- Antihistamine nasal sprays and tablets before bed (this will help relieve congestion if your snoring is more allergies).
- Vicks VapoRub under the nostrils.
- Nasal strips (these work by opening the nasal passage, temporarily reducing snoring, and making breathing more manageable).
- Switch sleeping position – try sleeping on your back or side and see if your snoring stops or is reduced.
Tongue snorers
Tongue snoring happens when the tongue relaxes and blocks the airway, which makes the tongue vibrate as air squeezes past it. It is most common after drinking alcohol and in obese people and people with excessive neck fat.
The solution is to keep your tongue down while you sleep. Sleeping on your side is the best solution because gravity will hold your tongue forward.
Back sleeping is the worst for tongue snoring. If you want to sleep on your back, you can get a Mandibular Advancement Device (MAD) to bring your jaw forward. However, these can be uncomfortable, so it’s best to sleep on your side.
Mouth snorers
Mouth snoring happens when muscles and tissues in the mouth vibrate, creating a deep snore that rumbles the bedroom. Another cause is obstruction, which forces muscles in the back of the throat into a spasm.
Closing your mouth is the obvious solution, made possible with a device like chin-up straps. Try these solutions to stop mouth snoring:
- Mouth sprays reduce palatal flutter. The best known is Rhynil, an anti-snoring spray for the nose and mouth.
- Chin-up straps that keep your mouth closed during sleep.
- Oral snore guards hold the jaw forward, strengthening the muscles that otherwise relax and vibrate.
Mouth snoring is relatively easy to solve because there are several physical solutions.
Throat snorers
Throat snoring is the most dangerous type because it indicates sleep apnea, a sleep disorder defined by airway obstruction.
Sleep apnea affects around 1.5 million people in the UK, but double that could be undiagnosed. It is critical to get a professional diagnosis – throat snoring is an apnea symptom and can cause death.
Obstructive apnea happens when the airway is obstructed, while central apnea occurs when the brain doesn’t send the correct signals to muscles that control breathing.
If you don’t have apnea but you do throat snore, try the following:
- Losing weight
- Drinking no alcohol
- Sleeping on your side
- Throat exercises to strengthen your throat
Summing up
Snoring might seem trivial, but it can significantly disrupt people’s sleep. If you or someone in your household snores, it is critical to figure out their type of snoring (nose, mouth, tongue, throat) and go from there.