Reviewed by Dr. Jared Nabeta, General Dentist (DDS)
Snoring is common, and it often affects two people: the person snoring and the person lying awake next to them. Some people snore now and then, after a cold or a late night. For others it happens most nights and starts to wear on sleep, mood and daytime energy in the household. This article explains why snoring happens, when it’s worth talking to your physician first, and how an in-office CO2 laser treatment for snoring works and who it may suit.
What is snoring?
Snoring is the sound made when soft tissues in the throat vibrate as air moves through a narrowed airway during sleep. The soft palate (the soft back part of the roof of your mouth) is one of the tissues that can vibrate. Snoring can have several causes, and more than one can be involved at the same time.
Why does snoring happen?
During sleep, the muscles that help keep the airway open naturally relax. If the airway becomes narrower, moving air can make the surrounding tissues vibrate. Factors that can contribute include:
- nasal congestion from a cold, allergies or a structural blockage
- sleeping on your back, which can let the tongue and soft tissues move toward the airway
- alcohol or sedating medication, which may increase muscle relaxation
- changes in muscle tone and soft tissue that come with age
- body weight and how tissue is distributed around the neck and airway
- the shape and position of the jaw, tongue, palate or other airway structures
Snoring can affect more than the person making the sound. Partners may have trouble falling asleep, wake up repeatedly or start sleeping in separate rooms, and poor sleep can contribute to irritability, trouble concentrating and lower daytime energy.
When should you talk to your physician?
Snoring and sleep apnea are related, but they are not the same thing. Snoring is a sound. Sleep apnea involves repeated reductions or pauses in breathing during sleep. Many people snore without any other health concern, but snoring can sometimes be a sign of a sleep-related breathing condition that is worth discussing with your physician.
Talk to your family physician if:
- a partner notices pauses in your breathing, followed by gasping or choking
- you wake up choking or gasping
- you are very sleepy during the day, or have trouble with memory, concentration or mood
- you often wake with a morning headache or a dry mouth
Sleep apnea must be assessed and diagnosed by a physician. Our office does not screen for, diagnose or treat sleep apnea, and we don’t provide oral appliances. If any of these signs apply to you, please see your physician before considering snoring treatment. If your physician is already involved in your sleep care, we work alongside them.
How does CO2 laser treatment for snoring work?
For some people whose snoring appears to be related to the soft palate, our dentists offer an in-office, non-surgical treatment with a fractional CO2 laser. The laser delivers short pulses of energy to the surface of the soft palate. It works by stimulating collagen in the treated tissue, which is intended to firm the tissue and reduce the vibration that causes snoring.
This is a treatment for snoring, not for sleep apnea, and it doesn’t replace care prescribed by your physician. How each person responds varies, and no result can be promised.
Who may it suit?
CO2 laser treatment may be worth discussing if:
- you snore regularly and it disturbs your sleep or your partner’s
- the examination suggests your soft palate is contributing to the sound
- you have no signs that call for a physician’s assessment, or your physician has assessed them and agrees that snoring treatment is reasonable
It may not be the right first step if you have possible signs of sleep apnea that a physician hasn’t yet assessed, or if your snoring comes mainly from nasal blockage, jaw position or other factors the laser does not treat. Other approaches some people use include changing sleep position, limiting alcohol before bed, treating nasal congestion, a custom oral appliance (not offered at our office), or medical and surgical options through a physician.
What does treatment feel like?
Most patients feel only a very slight tapping sensation while the laser is in use. A mildly sore throat afterward is common and temporary. Most people return to normal activities the same day.
Possible effects and limits include temporary soreness, irritation, swelling, dryness or discomfort when swallowing, and the chance that snoring continues or returns after treatment.
Background reading
For background reading, our research library includes a recent study on snoring vibration and upper-airway muscle.
Our dentists in Burlington offer snoring consultations, and you can learn more on our snoring and CO2 laser snoring treatment pages. No referral is needed. To ask about a snoring consultation, call 905-639-6701 or request an appointment online.
Frequently asked questions
Is snoring a sign of sleep apnea?
Not always. Many people snore without any other health concern. Snoring can sometimes be a sign of a sleep-related breathing condition, especially when a partner notices pauses in breathing or gasping, or when you are very sleepy during the day. Sleep apnea must be assessed and diagnosed by a physician, so talk to your physician about these signs.
Does CO2 laser treatment treat sleep apnea?
No. The CO2 laser treatment is for snoring only and does not treat sleep apnea. If your physician has prescribed CPAP or other care, don’t stop or change it without guidance from the prescribing provider.
How many visits does laser snoring treatment take?
The usual course is six visits about a month apart, each taking about 5 to 10 minutes, followed by a top-up visit once or twice a year. Every patient is different, and your own plan may differ.
Is laser snoring treatment painful?
Most patients feel only a very slight tapping sensation while the laser is in use. A mildly sore throat afterward is common and temporary, and most people return to normal activities the same day.
Do I need a referral for a snoring consultation?
No. You can request a snoring consultation directly. If your physician is already involved in your sleep care, we work alongside them.