Snoring can occur when the flow of air through the mouth and nose is obstructed. Air flow can be obstructed by a combination of factors such as:
- Obstructed nasal airways due to allergies, sinus infection, and deviated septum;
- Poor muscle tone in the throat and tongue, which allows them to collapse and fall back into the airway – a deep sleep, alcohol, sleeping pills and normal aging can all cause relaxation of these muscles;
- Bulky throat tissue from being overweight or having large tonsils and can cause airflow obstruction and cause snoring.
- A long soft palate or uvula can narrow the opening from the nose to the throat - when these structures vibrate and bump against one another the airway becomes obstructed, causing snoring.