Your partner is tired of sleeping through that snoring sound. You're tired of waking up with a sore, dry mouth. When it's time to make that snoring go away, you have several options. From simple drug store remedies to surgery, one or more techniques will give you both a more restful night. Here is what is causing all of that noise and how you can get rid of it.

Unobstructed Breathing is the Key

Various factors make it hard for you to breath while sleeping. As your body tries to get enough air into your lungs, a range of sounds, from a faint wheeze to a loud rumble, may result. Some of the common reasons for this include:

• a thicker, longer soft palate in the roof of the mouth
• swollen tissues in the throat and roof of the mouth
• an obstruction of your airway by the uvula
• a relaxation of soft tissues in the throat by medications or alcohol
• congestion of the airway by an allergy or illness

All of these prevent the normal flow of air into your lungs. Some will cause temporary snoring, such as an allergic, response which goes away by taking medication. Other issues that are anatomical in nature may require surgery to correct permanently.

Current Treatments for Snoring

The goal of each of these treatments is to expand the airway, allowing more air to get to your lungs. Start with the simple over-the-counter remedies and work up to surgery, if necessary, to give you and your partner some relief.

• Nasal strips - Available at your drug store, these plastic strips attach to the outside of your nose to hold your nostrils open as you sleep. These are effective if you have a deviated septum restricting air movement through your nose.
• Oral devices - These look like mouth guards worn during sporting activities and are used to hold the soft palate out of your airway. These are available over-the-counter at the drugstore. Custom-fitted versions can be ordered by your doctor.
• Surgery on the throat and mouth - Palate surgery for snoring removes some of the soft tissue in the roof of your mouth that blocks your airway and vibrates each time you breathe while sleeping.
• Nasal septum surgery - Should the septum in your nose be curved so much that it restricts the nasal passages, surgery can be done to straighten it out. Plastic surgery for snoring is often covered by insurance as well.

With several options available to you to treat your snoring, one or more will correct your specific issue. Get your snoring treated so you and your partner can enjoy a quiet and uninterrupted night's sleep.