Snoring is often brushed off as a minor inconvenience, but when it becomes chronic, it can lead to serious health issues like high blood pressure, heart problems, and even stroke. The root cause of snoring lies in obstructed breathing during sleep, which occurs when the airway is partially blocked or narrowed.

While snoring is commonly linked to nasal congestion, being overweight, or alcohol consumption, dental issues can also play a significant role. Teeth grinding, for instance, is often associated with snoring. In this blog post, our dentists will explore some lesser-known dental causes of snoring.

Abnormalities in teeth and oral tissues can affect the mouth's physiology, leading to changes in the jaw structure and airway narrowing. Research has identified several dental problems that can contribute to snoring:

Missing Teeth:

Teeth play a critical role in maintaining the structure of the mouth and jaw. When a tooth is missing and not replaced, it can cause the mouth to collapse inward, leading to bone loss in the jaw or a shrinking jaw. This reduction in space can cause the tongue to obstruct the airflow into and out of the mouth, resulting in snoring. Additionally, bone resorption can make it difficult to close the lips properly, further contributing to breathing difficulties and snoring.

Wisdom Teeth Eruption:

Wisdom teeth, or third molars, typically erupt between the ages of 17 and 25. However, due to a lack of space, these teeth may only partially erupt or come in at awkward angles, causing discomfort such as pain and overcrowding of other teeth. In cases of pericoronitis, where the soft tissues surrounding the partially erupted teeth become infected and inflamed, patients may keep their mouths open while sleeping, leading to mouth breathing and snoring.

Misaligned Jaw:

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is crucial for the normal functioning of the mouth, as it connects the jaw bone to the skull. However, habits such as teeth grinding and clenching can cause misalignment, pushing the lower jaw further back in the mouth. This displacement can disrupt the jaw bone's support for the tongue, causing it to partially obstruct the airflow and contribute to snoring.

Throat Muscle Spasms:

When the muscles in the throat relax excessively or contract too much, it can create the sensation of a large object being stuck in the throat. Known as throat muscle spasms or cricopharyngeal spasms, this condition can lead to the soft tissues in the throat blocking the airway and vibrating against each other during airflow, resulting in snoring.

Snoring is not just a nuisance; it can have significant implications for oral health and overall well-being. If left untreated, snoring can lead to dry mouth, cavities, gum diseases, and even more serious conditions like hypoxia and type 2 diabetes. Thankfully, advancements in dentistry have led to various treatment options for snoring, including CPAP machines.

If you experience symptoms like tooth or jaw pain upon waking, gasping for breath, or swelling in the gums, we recommend consulting a dentist. These symptoms may indicate underlying dental issues contributing to snoring, and addressing them can help improve sleep quality and overall health.

To know more, visit: https://www.aligndentalcare.lk/4-dental-causes-of-snoring-you-might-not-know/