What Is Snoring?

Snoring is the sound caused by the vibration of soft tissues during breathing while asleep. This vibration occurs when the airway partially narrows due to the relaxation of respiratory muscles and soft tissues. As air passes through the narrowed space, it causes surrounding tissues to vibrate.

In simple snoring cases, especially when lying on the back, the tongue tends to fall backward and narrows the airway. When the person lies on their side, snoring often decreases or disappears entirely.

Simple Precautions

The following measures can help in cases of simple snoring:

• Losing weight

• Avoiding alcohol before sleep

• Using nasal strips

• Sleeping with a high pillow

• Preventing sleeping on the back by attaching a tennis ball-sized object to the back

Mandibular Retrognathia and Snoring

One of the causes of snoring is a retruded lower jaw. This causes the tongue and soft palate to fall backward, narrowing the airway. Orthodontists can easily detect this condition through routine cephalometric X-rays.

Snoring and Sleep Apnea in Children

Snoring due to a retruded lower jaw can also be observed in children. However, sleep apnea is a more serious condition than snoring. In sleep apnea, the airway becomes blocked during sleep, and the patient cannot breathe for more than 10 seconds. This can happen repeatedly throughout the night.

Parents should not panic if their child snores, but they should consult an ENT specialist and an orthodontist. Not all snoring is sleep apnea; sometimes it may simply be due to mouth breathing.

A definitive diagnosis can only be made in a sleep laboratory. If there is a family history of sleep apnea (e.g., in the father), the risk should be evaluated in the child as well.

Orthodontic Approach (Children)

If a retruded lower jaw is detected during the growth period, it is critical to intervene before growth is complete.

Orthodontists can:

• Use functional appliances that stimulate the forward growth of the lower jaw.

• As a result, the airway is widened, and snoring can be significantly reduced or eliminated.

It is important to remember that once growth is complete, the lower jaw cannot be advanced without surgery. Early intervention is therefore essential.

Treatment Options in Adults

1. Intraoral Appliances
In simple snoring cases, orthodontists can provide appliances that move the lower jaw forward and prevent the tongue from falling back.

• Patients wear the appliance at night and remove it in the morning.

• Although initially uncomfortable, it significantly improves breathing and sleep quality.

2. Jaw Surgery (Orthognathic Surgery)
In more severe cases of snoring or sleep apnea, surgical procedures that reposition the lower or both jaws forward may be necessary.

At our clinic, we successfully perform these operations for patients whose quality of life is affected by sleep apnea.