Do you know what happens when we snore? First of all, it happens to a very large part of the population. In fact, it is such a common thing that most people are very familiar with snoring or know someone that does.

Snoring happens in our sleep, and it is just the sound that is made through breathing in our airways. Most people think that it is caused by nasal sounds. However, it actually happens behind the tongue at the back of our airways. The sound is made from our pharynx becoming constricted while we sleep. The back of the throat has soft tissue, which relaxes when we are in a deep sleep. When the tissue vibrates, it causes the snoring sound.

Sleep apnea, on the other hand, can make you experience symptoms such as pauses in breathing while you are asleep, or loud gasps that sound like you are trying to get some air. During the night, your breathing may pause dozens of times, and your brain can lose oxygen. This can be quite serious and needs to be looked at by your dentist.