Why Do People Snore? A Jaw Surgeon Explains

Almost everyone snores sometimes. For many people it's just noise. For others, it's the sound of an airway that keeps closing all night. I'm Dr. Will Gray, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. In this video: what snoring actually is, what makes it louder, how alcohol changes breathing during sleep, the difference between simple snoring and sleep apnea, the warning signs, home sleep tests, children who snore, side sleeping, oral appliances, CPAP, myofunctional therapy, the new weight loss drug approved for sleep apnea, and when jaw surgery is an option. Chapters 0:00 Noise, or a closing airway 0:18 What snoring is 0:41 What makes it louder 1:05 Alcohol 1:29 Snoring vs. sleep apnea 1:57 The clues 2:22 Home sleep tests 2:45 Why it matters 3:06 Children who snore 3:33 Start with the basics 3:56 Oral appliances 4:28 CPAP and myofunctional therapy 4:55 If CPAP failed before 5:20 A weight loss drug for sleep apnea 5:49 Jaw surgery for sleep apnea 6:19 What surgery involves 6:44 How I'd think about it 7:10 Close Sources Kolla BP et al. Sleep Med Rev 2018. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smrv.2018.0... Benjafield AV et al. Lancet Respir Med 2019 (funded by ResMed). https://doi.org/10.1016/S2213-2600(19... Marcus CL et al. Pediatrics 2012 (AAP guideline). https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2012-1671 Srijithesh PR et al. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2019. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD01... Ramar K et al. J Clin Sleep Med 2015 (AASM/AADSM guideline). https://doi.org/10.5664/jcsm.4858 Meghpara S et al. Expert Rev Respir Med 2021. https://doi.org/10.1080/17476348.2021... Malhotra A et al. N Engl J Med 2024 (funded by Eli Lilly). https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2404881 Zaghi S et al. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2016. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaoto.2015.... Disclosure: Anatomy visuals are AI-assisted illustrations of reference anatomy and dental models, not patients. The host likeness and voice were generated with AI from Dr. Gray's own likeness and voice, with his permission. Educational content, not medical advice. Talk to your own physician or a sleep specialist about snoring or sleep. Also on Body Logic: Should You Tape Your Mouth Shut at Night? Does someone in your house snore? Tell us in the comments. #BodyLogic #Snoring #SleepApnea #Sleep #CPAP #OralAppliance #JawSurgeon #HealthExplained