How to Stop Snoring in Melbourne

You’re lying in bed one night, just about to drift off to sleep, when you hear that sound. Your bed partner starts snoring softly, but after a few moments, it sounds like they are trying to saw through a large tree. This happens every night, and every night you have to push and poke them to make it stop. In the morning, you’re both under rested and extremely frustrated. What is causing them to snore so much? Is it something you should be concerned about? Better yet, is there a way to actually stop snoring in Melbourne?

What Causes Snoring?

When we go to sleep, the muscles in our mouth and throat relax, and for some, this causes the tissues to partially collapse into the airway. When air passes by these tissues, it causes them to vibrate, which creates that “iconic” snoring sound we all love. This can be brought on by a number of factors:

• Overly large tissues in the mouth, such as tonsils, adenoids, or the uvula.
• Blocked nasal passages either due to congestion or a deviated septum.
• A lack of muscle tone in the throat, which makes it easier for the tissues to collapse into the airway. This is more common for elderly people.
• Obesity, as fatty tissue in the throat can cause it to naturally narrow.
• Certain medicines can make the muscles relax as well.
• Drinking alcohol before bed can cause the muscles to overly relax.
• Sleep apnea, which is a condition where a person experiences brief lapses in breathing during the night because their airway becomes completely blocked.

As you can see, the reason a person snores can range from harmless to very serious in the case of sleep apnea. No matter the cause, however, snoring indicates that a person isn’t getting the highest quality sleep they possibly can, so a doctor should be consulted to figure out the root cause and determine if treatment is needed.

How to Stop Snoring

There are two ways to do this:

• Talk to your family doctor about your snoring. They may then refer you to a sleep doctor who will perform a sleep study to figure out the root cause of your snoring.
• Take our short sleep quiz. Our team will evaluate your answers and contact you within 24 hours to let you know what you should do next.

If your doctor thinks it is appropriate, you can actually get an anti-snoring device in Melbourne. It will be a custom-made mouthpiece created by a dentist that you’ll wear to bed every night, and it will gently reposition your jaw to keep your airway open, therefore preventing snoring. This approach is also very effective if it turns out that you have sleep apnea.

As annoying as snoring may be, there is something you can do about it. Don’t simply let yourself or your partner snore for years on end, as it could be the sign of a major health problem.  Talk to your doctor, and pretty soon, both of you will start getting the rest you deserve again.

About the Author

Dr. Kenneth Mogell is a certified sleep dentist based in Melbourne, FL. For over 30 years, he has successfully treated patients for both snoring and sleep apnea using custom-made oral appliances. If you’re ready for you or your partner to stop snoring, he can be contacted through his website.