Let’s talk about something no one wants to admit they do: snore.
Weather your partner’s gently nudging you all night (or not-so-gently), or you’re waking up feeling like you’ve run a marathon in your sleep, snoring isn’t just annoying, its a signal. Trust me your body is trying to tell you something important.
Spoiler alert: It’s not just a problem guys have or something that happens with age, women snore too. And if you are one of those people there’s a good chance it’s tied to your airway health.
What’s Actually Happening When You Snore?
When you snore, air is trying to move through a narrow or partially blocked airway. That resistance causes the soft tissues in the throat to vibrate, this is what creates that oh-so-charming nighttime soundtrack.
But here’s the real kicker: snoring is a sign that your airway isn’t able to do its job. This can get worse over time if the root cause is not addressed.
Why Snoring Isn’t Just A Nuisance
Let’s break it down:
Your sleep quality suffers.
Even if you seem to be sleeping for 7-8 hours, that doesn’t mean you’re getting the deep, restorative sleep your body really needs to function at its best.
You might have sleep disordered breathing.
Snoring is often a gateway symptom to more serious issues like Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome (UARS) or Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).
If you are experiencing brain fog, mood swings, and low energy, it’s all connected.
Sleep and oxygen are a really big deal. When your brain is not getting enough of either, you will feel it. That’s why it can be such a struggle to get through the day.
Why Women’s Snoring Often Gets Missed.
Here’s the thing: women’s symptoms can look different. While men can sound like full on chainsaws at night, women often have subtler signs: light snoring, waking frequently, grinding your teeth, or just feeling exhausted despite getting a “full night’s sleep”.
Doctors might chalk it up to stress, hormones, or anxiety. But your airway might be the real root cause.
The Myofunctional Connection
If your tongue and facial muscles aren’t doing their job properly during the day, guess what? They are probably slacking at night too.
When the tongue falls back during sleep it can block the airway, especially if your mouth is open. That’s were orofacial myofunctional therapy comes in. It retrains those muscles to support healthy breathing and keep your airway open.
Think of is like Pilates… but for your tongue and face.
So What Can You Do?
- Start with awareness.
- Record yourself sleeping (yes, really) or if possible ask your partner to look for signs. Snoring? Mouth open? Restless? Waking up several times a night?
- Try nasal support.
- Use a nasal strip, try a saline rinse, or address allergies to help open nasal passages.
- Mouth closed, tongue up.
- Practice good oral rest posture during the day. Your tongue should be on the roof or your mouth, lips sealed, and breathing through your nose. It may not be as easy as you might think though.
- Get assessed, don’t just guess.
- A myofunctional evaluation can help uncover what’s actually going on and give you a real plan for change (not just a CPAP and a prayer. We know a lot of you are refusing to wear the masks anyway so let’s at least try other options to improve muscle function and see if we can decrease the severity).
The Bottom Line
Snoring might be common, but that doesn’t mean it’s normal. Your body is trying to tell you something, and the good news? There’s a lot we can do to help.
Better breathing = better sleep = better (and more alert) YOU.
If you want to find out more feel free to book an assessment to see if you need to work on any, or all, of the four goals of myofunctional therapy. Or go straight to the exam to book an in-depth look at your history and concerns.