Snoring
If you snore - or your partner does - you are not alone. Snoring affects up to half of all Australian adults and is one of the most common reasons people come to SleepWise Clinic. But it is not something to simply accept and live with.
Snoring is a sign that your airway is being obstructed during sleep. Left unaddressed, it can disrupt sleep quality, strain relationships and - in many cases - point to obstructive sleep apnoea, a serious condition linked to cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure and diabetes. The right treatment can change all of that.
The good news is that effective, comfortable snoring treatment is available - and it does not involve surgery or a CPAP machine.
Why snoring matters
Snoring is more than an inconvenience. It disrupts your sleep, affects your partner, and can be a warning sign of obstructive sleep apnoea - a condition linked to serious long-term health consequences.
2 in 5 Australians suffer from snoring
70% of regular snorers have sleep apnoea and don't know it
44% of men aged 30 – 60 years snore regularly
1 in 3 women snore by the third trimester of pregnancy
What is snoring?
Snoring occurs when the muscles around the upper airway relax during sleep, causing the airway to narrow. When you breathe in, the surrounding tissues vibrate and produce sound. The narrower the airway, the louder the snore.
It is one of the most common sleep-related complaints in Australia.
What causes snoring?
Snoring has multiple contributing factors. Often more than one is at play at the same time.
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Fat deposits around the neck narrow the upper airway, making collapse during sleep more likely. Even modest weight gain can worsen snoring. Muscles developed while working out with weights may also contribute to the collapse as these muscles relax during sleep.
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Alcohol relaxes the muscles in the whole body, including the muscles of the throat, increasing the likelihood of airway collapse and vibration. Avoid alcohol for at least four hours before bedtime.
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When lying on your back, the tongue and soft tissues fall backwards into the airway due to gravity. Side sleeping can make a meaningful difference for many people, although it can be difficult to maintain a side sleeping posture consistently and all night, especially if there is a shoulder or hip injury.
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Nasal obstruction forces mouth breathing, which significantly increases the likelihood of snoring. Managing nasal airflow can reduce symptoms.
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Some people are simply born with a naturally narrower airway. This does not mean treatment cannot help - it means the right treatment matters.
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Muscle tone decreases as we get older, making the tissues of the throat more susceptible to collapse during sleep.
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Both can cause swelling of the nasal and throat tissues, narrowing the airway and worsening snoring.
Snoring is a sign of airway obstruction. Over 70% of regular snorers have sleep apnoea - and most do not know it. This is why a proper assessment matters. Not just to stop the noise, but to understand what is driving it.
The good news is that effective, comfortable snoring treatment is available - and it does not involve surgery or a CPAP machine.
It affects more than just you
Snoring does not only disrupt the snorer's sleep. A partner lying awake next to a snorer loses valuable sleep too - affecting their mood, concentration and ability to function during the day. Snoring has been shown to contribute to relationship tension, resentment and in some cases couples sleeping in separate rooms or booking separate hotel rooms when travelling.
Many of our patients come to us not for themselves, but because someone who loves them finally said something. Whatever brings you here, we are glad you are looking into it.
The health risks of untreated snoring
Heart conditions
Regular snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea place significant strain on the cardiovascular system overnight, increasing the risk of heart disease, irregular heart rhythm and heart failure over time.
High blood pressure
Snoring is closely linked to high blood pressure.
The louder and more frequent the snoring, the greater the risk. Treating the underlying cause can make a meaningful difference to blood pressure control.
Obstructive Sleep Apnoea
Snoring is the most common sign of obstructive sleep apnoea - a condition in which breathing repeatedly stops during sleep. Most people who have it have never been diagnosed.
Diabetes
Disrupted sleep and repeated drops in oxygen levels overnight affect the way the body processes glucose, and are associated with a significantly increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
The oral appliance is a consistent & effective snoring treatment available to everyone
The clinical consensus is clear. Oral appliances are the best available treatment for snoring - and one of only two frontline treatments for obstructive sleep apnoea - endorsed by sleep physicians, ENT surgeons and dental sleep medicine specialists worldwide.
Worn during sleep, a custom oral appliance works by holding the lower jaw gently forward. This prevents the tongue and soft tissues at the back of the throat from collapsing into the airway - keeping it open, reducing obstruction and stopping the vibration that causes snoring.
According to the Australian Dental Association, based on extensive research, 95% of people will experience an improvement in their snoring when using a custom oral appliance.
CPAP is generally not recommended as a first-line treatment for snoring. Custom oral appliances are significantly more comfortable, unobtrusive and easy to use - and far better tolerated for long-term use.
At SleepWise, we have seen firsthand what the clinical evidence consistently shows - oral appliances are the best available treatment for snoring, and one of only two frontline treatments for sleep apnoea.
Why choose a custom oral appliance over other snoring solutions?
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Over-the-counter mouthguards are one-size-fits-all - which means they are often bulky, poorly fitting and ineffective. They can also cause jaw joint problems and dental changes over time.
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A growing number of online services also market appliances described as custom made where the patient takes their own impressions at home and posts them to an external laboratory. While these are shaped to the patient's teeth, they are never clinically fitted or reviewed. Without a proper fitting and structured follow-up, outcomes are often poor and problems can go undetected.
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These address nasal breathing but do not treat the underlying airway obstruction that causes snoring. They may offer marginal benefit but are not a primary treatment. However, steroidal nasal sprays may be more helpful than those that claim to ‘cure snoring’. Speak to your GP, ENT or sleep medicine dentist about these nasal sprays.
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Helpful as a supporting measure for some people but not effective as a standalone snoring treatment.
The SleepWise custom-made oral appliance
Not all snoring devices are equal. Here is what sets a SleepWise custom oral appliance apart from what you might find over the counter.
Precision-fitted using 3D intraoral scanning. Manufactured from 3D-printed nylon - thin, strong and virtually unbreakable. Australian-made by a specialist Melbourne-based dental sleep laboratory. Adjustable to find the optimal jaw position with your comfort at the forefront. Backed by a three-year laboratory warranty. Supported by experienced and committed sleep medicine dentists who truly want to help.
For quieter nights. Yours, and theirs.
Not sure if your snoring needs treatment?
Take our free two-minute online sleep apnoea test and get a clearer picture of your risk.
Ready to do something about it?
Book a consultation or a free call with one of our treatment coordinators - no referral needed, no obligation.