What Are Different Snoring Treatment Methods?

When airways are blocked, or tissues become vibrating, people rumble. A soft palate vibration against the velopharynx is the most common reason for snoring. However, the tongue, the uvula, the pillars of tonsillar or other areas may not always be soft palate. When you sleep, your neck muscles and the muscles of your throat in your body relax. The amount of space in the airways, which can sometimes cause snoring, decreases relaxation. Like strings of a guitar, it creates a noise when the tissue vibrates.

What Causes Snoring?

There is too much tissue in the throat and nasal areas which can contribute to snoring. Weight gain is, therefore, often associated with snoring.

Bad posture may narrow your airway when you are sleeping. However, a simple revision such as going from the back to your side or raising your head can reduce snoring. Other causes include sliding tongue back into your mouth, narrowing the respiratory tract, regular alcohol or tobacco use, allergy or nasal obstruction. It may be because of a problem with the nasal septum that separates your nose. Snoring can also be an indication, although they're not always connected, that someone has sleep apneas. The neck tissues may swell even during pregnancy.

Snoring Treatment

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) - CPAP means wearing a mask while you sleep on your nose or mouth. The mask lets pressure air pass through the airway from a small bed pump to keep you open while you are sleeping. CPAP reduces snoring and is used most often when associated with OSA for the treatment of snoring. Although CPAP is the most reliable and effective way to treat OSA, it is not easy for some people, or it is difficult to adapt to the noise or feel of the machine.

Upper airway surgery - Various techniques aim at opening the upper airway and preventing significant narrowing during sleep. For instance, you receive general anesthesia during a procedure called UPPP, and your surgeon tightens and cuts excess tissue from your throat— a kind of facial lift for your throat. For example, you are given general anesthesia. A second procedure called MMA involves moving the up and down jaws forward, thus helping to open the airways. The MMA is a maxillomandibular process. A low-intensity radiofrequency signal is used for shrinking tissue in the soft palate, tongue or nose. Radiofrequency tissue ablation is used.

Pillar Implant Procedure - The pillar implant procedure, rods are made of medical mesh that is inserted into the soft palate. These rods can be small, but they are strong (only approx. 0.7 cm long and 0.08 cm in diameter). It can be done with local anesthesia right at our OKOA ENT office. It is minimally invasive so that the comfort and the recovery time are minimal. The column procedure gives the soft palate strength. It is placed between the soft and hard palate that provides the soft palate with a bridge.

Furthermore, it becomes firmer and more vibratory as the tissue around the pillars heals. The procedure can be carried out during a single visit. The discomfort is minimal because it does not remove abrading tissue. Most people return right after the procedure to their regular activities and diets.

For snoring treatment, you can turn up to our OKOA office. Our ENT specialist will guide you to the best to have a great sleep.

**Disclaimer: The information on this page is not intended to be a doctor's advice, nor does it create any form of patient-doctor relationship.