Snoring is a common problem that can disrupt sleep quality for you and your partner. While many associate snoring with sleeping with the mouth open, it’s entirely possible to snore with your mouth closed. This lesser-known type of snoring often points to underlying nasal or airway issues that need attention. In this blog, we’ll explore the causes and connections to sleep disorders like sleep apnea, as well as effective solutions to stop snoring with a closed mouth.
What Causes Snoring With a Closed Mouth?
Snoring typically occurs when airflow through the upper airway is partially blocked, causing the surrounding soft tissues to vibrate. When your mouth is closed, snoring is more likely to stem from issues in the nasal passages or throat rather than the oral cavity. Here are some key contributors:
Nasal Congestion and Blocked Nasal Passages
Blocked nasal passages from conditions like nasal congestion, sinus infections, or nasal polyps can force air through restricted spaces, leading to nasal snoring. Persistent snoring often occurs when congestion increases nasal resistance.
Deviated Septum
A deviated septum, where the cartilage separating the nostrils is misaligned, can restrict airflow in the nasal cavity. This obstruction promotes nasal breathing challenges and increases the likelihood of snoring sounds.
Weak Muscle Tone
Weakness in the throat muscles, often due to age or lifestyle factors, can cause the tissues in the upper airway to collapse slightly, even when the mouth is closed. This throat snoring can create loud snoring noises.
Allergy Triggers
Allergies to pets, dust, or other irritants can inflame the nasal passages, causing nasal obstruction. This inflammation often promotes nasal breathing issues, leading to snoring noise.
Nasal Obstruction from Enlarged Tonsils
In some cases, enlarged tonsils can narrow the airway at the back of the throat, contributing to both nasal and throat snoring.
How to Identify the Type of Snoring You Have
Understanding the type of snoring you experience is critical for addressing the underlying causes and finding effective solutions. Snoring can originate from different areas of the airway, and recognising its source helps tailor treatments to your needs.
Nasal Snoring
- What it is: Nasal snoring occurs when airflow through the nasal passages is obstructed. Common causes include nasal congestion, blocked nasal passages, deviated septum, or nasal polyps.
- Signs and Symptoms:
- Snoring sounds are often higher-pitched or whistle-like.
- You may feel congested or struggle to breathe through your nose, especially at night.
- Nasal strips or dilators may provide temporary relief.
Throat Snoring
- What it is: Throat snoring results from relaxed throat muscles or soft tissues collapsing during sleep, causing vibrations in the upper airway.
- Signs and Symptoms:
- Snoring is typically louder and more guttural.
- It may worsen when sleeping on your back.
- Accompanied by morning headaches or a sore throat in some cases.
Tongue-Based Snoring
- What it is: Tongue snoring happens when the tongue shifts backward into the throat, creating a partial obstruction to airflow. This is common in people with smaller jaw structures or those who consume alcohol before bed.
- Signs and Symptoms:
- A deep, rumbling, snoring sound.
- More likely to happen when lying flat on your back.
- It may cause pauses in breathing if severe (indicating possible sleep apnea).
Closed-Mouth vs Open-Mouth Snoring
- Closed-Mouth Snoring: Often indicates nasal or throat-related issues, such as blocked nasal passages, nasal congestion, or weak throat muscles.
- Open-Mouth Snoring: Typically linked to mouth breathing, where vibrations occur in the tongue, soft palate, or throat.
Identifying these patterns may require feedback from a sleep partner or monitoring devices like smartphone apps or wearables that track snoring.
Snoring and Its Impact on Sleep Quality
While snoring may appear to be a minor inconvenience, it can significantly disrupt your sleep quality and overall health. Closed-mouth snoring, in particular, often goes unnoticed but still impacts sleep patterns.
How Snoring Disrupts Sleep Patterns:
- Interrupted Sleep Cycles: Snoring sounds, whether loud or subtle, can cause frequent micro-awakenings, preventing you from reaching restorative deep sleep.
- Daytime Fatigue: Inadequate rest leads to excessive daytime sleepiness, impacting concentration, productivity, and mood.
- Sleep Fragmentation: Partners or housemates disturbed by snoring may also experience fragmented sleep, causing relationship strain.
Health Effects of Poor Sleep from Snoring:
- Weakened Immunity: Persistent sleep disturbances caused by snoring can weaken the immune system, making you more susceptible to infections and illnesses.
- Increased Risk of Chronic Conditions: Inadequate sleep caused by snoring is linked to serious health issues, including high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and stroke.
- Mental Health Impacts: Lack of quality sleep can exacerbate anxiety, depression, and irritability, further lowering your overall well-being.
- Weight Gain: Sleep deprivation affects hormones that regulate appetite, increasing cravings for unhealthy foods and making it harder to maintain a healthy weight.
Addressing snoring is not just about improving sleep—it’s about safeguarding your long-term health.
Closed-Mouth Snoring in Children
Snoring in children, including closed-mouth snoring, can be a sign of underlying health issues. While occasional snoring may be harmless, persistent snoring warrants attention as it could indicate problems like obstructive sleep apnea or airway obstructions.
Causes of Closed-Mouth Snoring in Children:
- Enlarged Adenoids or Tonsils: These can partially block the airway, leading to snoring.
- Allergies or Nasal Congestion: Allergic reactions to dust, pollen, or pets may inflame nasal passages, causing snoring.
- Nasal Obstruction: Structural problems such as a deviated septum or nasal polyps can restrict airflow.
- Obesity: Excess weight may compress the airway, increasing the likelihood of snoring.
Signs Parents Should Watch For:
- Loud or frequent snoring, even with the mouth closed.
- Restlessness or difficulty staying asleep.
- Daytime symptoms such as fatigue, irritability, or trouble concentrating.
- Waking up with morning headaches or a dry mouth.
When to Seek Medical Advice:
- Snoring persists for more than a few weeks.
- Breathing pauses, gasping, or choking sounds occur during sleep (potential signs of sleep apnea).
- The child exhibits excessive daytime sleepiness or behavioural issues.
Prompt intervention can address the root causes and boost your child’s sleep quality and overall well-being. Solutions may include allergy management, nasal sprays, or, in severe cases, surgical removal of adenoids or tonsils.
Could It Be Sleep Apnoea?
Closed-mouth snoring may be a symptom of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), a serious condition where the airway becomes partially or fully blocked during sleep. This blockage can cause you to stop breathing momentarily, leading to symptoms like:
- Excessive daytime sleepiness
- Morning headaches
- Dry mouth
- Sore throat
- Persistent snoring
How to Stop Snoring With Your Mouth Closed
Reducing nasal and throat snoring involves a combination of treatments, lifestyle changes, and devices. Let’s break it down:
Promote Nasal Breathing
- Nasal Sprays: Saline sprays or medicated options can reduce inflammation in the nasal cavity and improve snoring by clearing blocked nasal passages.
- Nasal Rinse: Using a nasal rinse can flush out allergens, promoting better airflow and reducing nasal congestion.
- Nasal Dilators: These devices help expand the nasal airway, reducing nasal resistance and improving airflow.
Treat Underlying Causes
- Allergy Treatments: Addressing pet and dust allergies with antihistamines or decongestants can alleviate nasal blockage and stop snoring.
- Surgical Options: Procedures to correct a deviated septum or remove nasal polyps can reduce nasal obstruction and improve snoring.
Use Anti-Snoring Devices
- Mouth Tape: Encourages nose breathing by keeping the mouth closed during sleep, which can help reduce mouth snoring and improve nasal breathing.
- Nasal Strips: Adhesive strips placed on the nose help reduce nasal resistance by widening the nasal passages.
- Anti-Snoring Pillows: These pillows support proper alignment of the head and jaw forward, reducing airway collapse.
Lifestyle Changes to Improve Snoring
Adopting healthy habits can have a major impact on reducing snoring noise and improving sleep patterns:
- Maintain a Healthy Weight: Excess weight, particularly around the neck, can compress the airway and exacerbate snoring and sleep apnea.
- Avoid Sleep Medication and Alcohol: Both can relax throat muscles, increasing the likelihood of airway collapse.
- Stay Hydrated: Dry mouth and nasal passages can worsen snoring sounds, so staying hydrated helps keep tissues supple.
- Address Muscle Tone: Exercises to strengthen throat and tongue muscles can reduce the likelihood of soft tissues collapsing during sleep.
When to Seek Professional Help
If closed-mouth snoring persists or is accompanied by symptoms like excessive daytime sleepiness, bad breath, or high blood pressure, seek medical advice. Persistent snoring and sleep apnea require comprehensive treatment, which may include:
- Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP): A CPAP machine provides a constant flow of air to maintain an open airway, helping to reduce snoring and enhance sleep quality.
- Sleep Medicine Evaluation: Sleep studies can diagnose obstructive sleep apnea or other sleep-related conditions.
Snoring Solutions That Work
Addressing closed-mouth snoring often requires a personalised approach, blending medical treatments and lifestyle adjustments. By understanding the root cause, such as nasal congestion, blocked nasal passages, or muscle tone issues, you can choose the most effective snoring solutions for your needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can closed-mouth snoring be hereditary?
Yes, genetics can play a significant role in snoring patterns, including factors like a deviated septum, nasal structure, or throat anatomy that contribute to snoring with a closed mouth.
- Is closed-mouth snoring common in children?
Closed-mouth snoring can occur in children, often due to enlarged tonsils, adenoids, or allergies. It’s important to consult a doctor if snoring persists.
- Can sinus infections lead to closed-mouth snoring?
Yes, sinus infections can cause nasal congestion and blocked nasal passages, leading to snoring sounds even with a closed mouth.
- Does posture affect closed-mouth snoring?
Sleeping on your back can exacerbate closed-mouth snoring by allowing soft tissues in the throat to relax and obstruct the airway.
- Can stress worsen snoring with a closed mouth?
Stress can indirectly worsen snoring by affecting sleep quality and muscle tone, particularly in the throat and airway.
- Are nasal rinses effective for closed-mouth snoring?
Yes, nasal rinses can clear blocked nasal passages, reduce nasal congestion, and improve airflow, which may help reduce snoring.
- Does dehydration make closed-mouth snoring worse?
Yes, dehydration can dry out the nasal and throat tissues, increasing friction and making snoring sounds more likely.
- Can quitting smoking help with closed-mouth snoring?
Yes, smoking irritates and inflames the airway, which can contribute to nasal obstruction and snoring. Quitting smoking often reduces these issues.
- Is tongue-based snoring possible with a closed mouth?
Yes, the tongue can partially block the airway during sleep, even if your mouth is closed, leading to tongue-based snoring.
- Can nasal congestion be seasonal?
Yes, seasonal allergies such as hay fever can lead to nasal congestion and closed-mouth snoring during certain times of the year.
- Are there medications that can reduce closed-mouth snoring?
Yes, medications like nasal decongestants or antihistamines can help relieve nasal obstruction and reduce snoring.
- Can certain foods worsen closed-mouth snoring?
Yes, consuming heavy or spicy foods before bed can lead to nasal congestion or acid reflux, both of which can increase snoring.
- Do nasal strips work for everyone?
While nasal strips are effective for many, they may not work if the snoring is caused by structural issues like a deviated septum or enlarged tonsils.
- Can snoring with a closed mouth be a sign of throat inflammation?
Yes, throat inflammation due to infections or irritants can cause snoring even with a closed mouth by narrowing the airway.
- How does ageing affect closed-mouth snoring?
As people age, muscle tone in the throat and airway weaken, which can increase the likelihood of snoring, including with a closed mouth.
Wrapping It All Up: Your Path to Peaceful Sleep
Yes, you can snore with your mouth closed, and understanding why snoring occurs is the first step to finding relief. Whether it’s nasal resistance, throat snoring, or tongue snoring, identifying the root cause is essential. Start by promoting nasal breathing, treating underlying conditions like nasal obstruction, and using proven snoring aids like nasal dilators or CPAP therapy.
For persistent snoring or signs of obstructive sleep apnea, schedule an appointment with Melbourne Dental Sleep Clinic at:
- Caulfield North : (03) 9068 5355
- Footscray: (03) 9068 5357
- Niddrie: (03) 9068 5316
Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
References
- Cleveland Clinic. (n.d.). CPAP machine. Retrieved from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/22043-cpap-machine
- Healthline. (n.d.). Swollen tonsils: Causes, treatments, and home remedies. Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/health/swollen-tonsils
- Mayo Clinic. (n.d.). Deviated septum: Symptoms and causes. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/deviated-septum/symptoms-causes/syc-20351710
- Sleep Foundation. (n.d.). Sleeping with your mouth open. Retrieved from https://www.sleepfoundation.org/snoring/sleeping-with-mouth-open
- WebMD. (n.d.). Nasal sprays: Uses, types, and safety. Retrieved from https://www.webmd.com/allergies/nasal-sprays
