What causes snoring?
Snoring has a cause, and finding it is the key to stopping it for good.
Snoring happens when the airway narrows during sleep and the soft tissue in the back of your throat vibrates as air moves past it. Jaw position, tongue size, nasal congestion and sleep position can all play a part. At A-Z Sleep & Airway Center in Glen Allen, Dr. Ashlee Goodman-Tabari looks for the cause before treating it.
Anatomy, habits, and what's narrowing your airway
Where the sound comes from
Snoring happens when air can’t move freely through your airway while you sleep. As the muscles in your throat and tongue relax, the airway narrows, and the tissue vibrates as you breathe. The tighter the space, the louder the sound.
What narrows the airway
A lot comes down to anatomy, the shape of your jaw and throat, the size of your tongue, whether you breathe through your mouth, and how everything sits when you lie down. A narrow arch can leave your tongue without enough room, so it falls back and blocks the airway. These are physical patterns we can actually see and address.
Getting to the root of it
Because snoring has a physical cause, guessing rarely fixes it. We look at your airway, jaw, and bite, and use a sleep study to rule out or catch sleep apnea. Once we understand what’s driving your snoring, we can match you with a treatment that targets the real cause.
What you can count on
We find the real cause, not a guess
A close look at your airway and bite
Sleep testing to rule out apnea
Treatment matched to the cause
What patients ask us
Is snoring just about weight?
Weight can play a role, but snoring is often about anatomy, your jaw shape, tongue position, and airway size. That’s why people of all sizes snore, and why a proper look at your airway matters more than assumptions.
Does snoring mean something is wrong?
Not always, but it can be a sign of a narrowed airway or sleep apnea. Since loud, regular snoring can point to something that affects your health, it’s worth understanding what’s causing yours.
Can the cause of my snoring be treated?
Usually, yes. Once we identify what’s narrowing your airway, a custom oral appliance can help keep it open so you breathe, and sleep, more quietly.
More questions, answered
Does sleeping on my back make snoring worse?
Often, yes. Lying on your back lets your tongue and soft tissue fall backward, narrowing your airway and making snoring more likely. Sleeping on your side can help some people, but if snoring persists in any position, it's worth looking at the underlying cause.
Does alcohol make snoring worse?
Yes. Alcohol relaxes the muscles in your throat, which lets your airway narrow more than usual and makes snoring louder. Drinking close to bedtime tends to have the biggest effect. If cutting back doesn't quiet things down, the cause may be structural and worth evaluating.
Can losing weight stop my snoring?
For some people it helps, since extra tissue around the neck and throat can narrow the airway. But plenty of people at a healthy weight still snore because of their jaw or airway anatomy. Weight is one factor, not the whole story, so a proper evaluation matters.
Why do I snore more as I get older?
As you age, the muscles in your throat naturally lose some tone and your soft tissue relaxes more during sleep, which narrows the airway and increases snoring. It's common, but louder or new snoring still deserves a look to rule out sleep apnea.
Can mouth breathing cause snoring?
Yes. Breathing through your mouth during sleep, often from congestion or habit, can dry your airway and make the tissues vibrate more, leading to snoring. Understanding why you're mouth breathing is part of finding the right fix, so it's worth mentioning when we evaluate you.
Related care
Ready to stop guessing about your sleep?
If you snore, wake up tired, or have been told you stop breathing at night, the first step is simple. Call us and we will get you scheduled.