If you snore, or cohabitate with someone who does, you should know that snoring can be triggered by a number of different factors, from enlarged tonsils or adenoids to your diet, health, lifestyle, age, weight, environment and other seemingly unrelated causes.

While it's the subject of many jokes, it can also be a serious problem. Snoring cannot only interrupt your bed partner's sleep - no laughing matter to him or her - it is also associated with sleep apnea and cardiovascular problems such as high blood pressure, which can lead to a stroke.

Snoring is produced when the muscles and soft tissues in the throat and mouth relax, making your airway smaller. The decrease in airway space increases the velocity of air flowing through the airway during breathing, which causes vibrations in the soft tissues of the mouth and throat, producing the "snoring" sound.

If you're a snorer or sleep with someone who is, you may be interested in talking to us about a dental oral appliance that can help keep the noise down. It's a simple mouthpiece that prevents the lower jaw from falling back and/or your tongue from dropping back towards the back of your throat while you're sleeping, therefore helping to keep your airway open.

You owe it to yourself and to your partner to ask us about a custom-made oral appliance that can provide a peaceful solution to your noisy nights.