Snoring

Advanced Snoring Treatment and Solutions at Rebis

Understanding Snoring: More Than Just Noise

Snoring occurs when airflow through the mouth and nose becomes partially blocked during sleep, causing soft tissues in the throat to vibrate. While many consider it harmless, chronic snoring can reach 90 decibels—as loud as a motorcycle—creating what sleep specialists call "vibrational trauma" to delicate airway tissues.

Key Airway Structures Involved:

  • Soft palate, uvula, tonsils, and tongue

  • Nasal passages (congestion forces mouth breathing)

  • Posterior throat walls and lateral pharyngeal structures

The Hidden Dangers of Chronic Snoring

Progressive Tissue Damage

Vibrational trauma creates a harmful cycle where nightly snoring damages the very tissues creating the sound, making them swollen, inflamed, and more likely to collapse. This leads to chronic inflammation, tissue swelling, and worsening snoring intensity over time.


Serious Health Consequences

  • Cardiovascular impact: Vibrational trauma to carotid arteries may contribute to atherosclerosis and stroke risk

  • Hearing damage: Connections to tinnitus and hearing loss from constant high-amplitude noise exposure

  • Sleep disruption: Repeated sympathetic nervous system activation leading to elevated blood pressure and heart rate irregularities

  • Airway inflammation: Contributing to chronic rhinitis, tonsillitis, and nasal breathing difficulties

Daily Life Impact

  • Morning sore throats and feeling of throat obstruction

  • Daytime fatigue, brain fog, and concentration difficulties

  • Relationship strain and separate sleeping arrangements

  • Social embarrassment and reduced quality of life

Rebis Health's Comprehensive Treatment Approach

Our specialists use Dr. David McCarty's Five Finger Approach to thoroughly evaluate all contributing factors:

Advanced Diagnostic Assessment

Comprehensive Evaluation:

  • Medical factors: underlying conditions, medications, anatomical issues

  • Sleep factors: sleep position, hygiene, environment

  • Airway factors: nasal congestion, throat anatomy, breathing patterns

  • Lifestyle factors: weight, alcohol use, daily habits

  • Psychological factors: stress, anxiety, mental health

State-of-the-Art Testing:

  • Home sleep apnea testing for convenient evaluation

  • In-lab polysomnography for complex cases

  • Airway imaging and 3D assessment

  • Acoustic analysis measuring snoring intensity and patterns

Medical Management Solutions

Primary Interventions:

  • Nasal treatments to improve breathing through the nose

  • Position therapy to reduce back-sleeping snoring

  • CPAP therapy when sleep apnea is diagnosed

  • Weight management support when appropriate

  • Medication adjustments for drugs worsening snoring

Airway-Focused Dental Solutions

Innovative Dental Approaches:

  • Oral appliance therapy: Custom devices to keep airway open during sleep

  • Myofunctional therapy: Strengthening airway muscles and improving breathing patterns

  • Tongue-tie evaluation and treatment: Addressing restricted tongue mobility

  • Orthodontic interventions: Optimizing airway space through arch expansion and jaw positioning

Integrative Medicine Support

Root Cause Analysis:

  • Inflammatory assessment to reduce airway swelling factors

  • Nutritional optimization supporting healthy sleep and reducing congestion

  • Hormone evaluation when imbalances affect sleep quality

  • Stress management techniques improving overall sleep quality

Breathing Retraining Programs

Specialized Breathing Techniques:

  • Conscious breathing methods promoting healthy nasal breathing

  • Buteyko method training reducing mouth breathing

  • Myofunctional therapy strengthening tongue, throat, and facial muscles

  • Vocal exercises helping reduce snoring frequency and intensity

Advanced Airway Therapies

Cutting-Edge Treatments:

  • Mandibular advancement devices positioning jaw optimally for breathing

  • Tongue stabilization appliances preventing tongue-based obstruction

  • Nasal breathing aids improving nasal airflow

  • Combination therapy approaches addressing multiple factors

Treatment Benefits

Improved Sleep Quality

Better sleep for both patients and partners, leading to increased energy, improved mood, better concentration, enhanced immune function, and reduced chronic health problem risk.

Restored Relationships

Comfortable co-sleeping, reduced nighttime conflicts, improved intimacy, and more peaceful home environments.

Enhanced Overall Health

Reduced cardiovascular risk, better blood pressure control, improved mental clarity, and greater confidence in social situations.

Frequently Asked Questions: Snoring

  • While most people with sleep apnea snore, not everyone who snores has sleep apnea. However, chronic loud snoring can be a warning sign of underlying sleep disorders and should be evaluated, especially if it disrupts sleep for the snorer or their partner.

  •  For some people, lifestyle modifications like weight loss, avoiding alcohol before bed, side sleeping, and treating nasal congestion can significantly reduce snoring. However, many cases require additional interventions to address anatomical or medical factors.

  •  Snoring can reach 90 decibels—as loud as a motorcycle. Any snoring that disrupts sleep nightly or causes relationship problems warrants evaluation. Loud snoring is more likely to cause vibrational trauma that worsens the condition over time.

  • Oral appliances can be highly effective, particularly when snoring is caused by the tongue or lower jaw falling backward during sleep. These custom devices keep the airway open and can be an excellent CPAP alternative for appropriate candidates.

  •  Children who snore may have different causes like enlarged tonsils/adenoids, allergies, or developmental airway issues. Pediatric snoring can affect growth, behavior, school performance, and development, requiring age-appropriate evaluation and treatment.

  •  Excess weight, particularly around the neck and throat, can narrow the airway and contribute to snoring. However, thin people can also snore due to anatomical factors, nasal congestion, or other causes. Weight management may be part of treatment but is rarely the only factor.

  •  Many patients achieve significant reduction or complete elimination with appropriate treatment. Success depends on underlying causes and commitment to the treatment plan. Even when not completely eliminated, substantial improvement is usually possible.

  •  Timeline varies by treatment approach. Positional therapy or nasal treatments may provide immediate relief. Oral appliances typically show results within weeks of proper fitting. Lifestyle changes and breathing retraining may take several months for full benefits.

  •  Coverage varies by diagnosis and treatments. Sleep studies and CPAP therapy are typically covered when sleep apnea is diagnosed. Oral appliances may be covered for sleep apnea treatment. We work with patients to understand coverage and explore all options.

  •  Initial evaluation includes comprehensive review of medical history, sleep patterns, lifestyle factors, and symptoms. We may examine the airway, discuss sleep study options, and develop a preliminary treatment plan using our collaborative Five Finger Approach.

  • Yes, chronic snoring creates vibrational trauma that can cause progressive tissue damage, contribute to carotid artery atherosclerosis (increasing stroke risk), and lead to hearing damage including tinnitus. This is why early treatment is important.

  • Nasal blockage forces mouth breathing, which releases the tongue from its normal position against the palate, allowing it to fall backward and obstruct the airway. Treating nasal congestion is often a crucial component of snoring treatment.

  • Our multidisciplinary team uses the Five Finger Approach to examine all potential contributors including sleep disorders, airway anatomy, lifestyle factors, and underlying health conditions. We focus on treating root causes rather than just managing symptoms, leading to more comprehensive and lasting results

  • Children require specialized approaches tailored to their developmental needs. Treatment may include addressing enlarged tonsils/adenoids, managing allergies, using age-appropriate myofunctional therapy, and guiding proper facial growth through orthodontic interventions.