FirstMed Consulting Blog

We all know how annoying can be snoring for the snorer and the partner. The effects and seriousness of snoring are becoming more apparent with snoring being linked to conditions like high blood pressure and coronary disease. The different types of snoring range from a simple gust to a full roar. Snoring, I believe, is a signal that the body’s systems are out of balance. But correcting the balance may not take a huge change, take the example of Andy.

Andy was in his late 30s and had snored for several years. He wasn’t quite sure when it started but lately the snoring had being a more regular event. He probably still wouldn’t be aware of it, except for his wife who was going crazy. Andy had always being active. If you asked someone he/she wouldn’t describe Andy as overweight but Andy freely admits he has gained a pound a year over the past 10 years and plans to start loosing some of it sometime soon.

Every year Andy and his family, his wife and two sons go camping. They always go to the same camping ground and always get the same site, or there about, near the water and away from the highway.

After a couple of days after arriving Andy’s wife Karen noticed that Andy wasn’t snoring as he normally did. On last holidays even the boys would mention how annoying dad’s snoring was. They too had noticed a more quiet night. Andy was pleased as he too had noticed that he awoke more refreshed in the morning and his mouth didn’t feel dry. He didn’t know what change he had made that brought this unexpected and pleasant result, but he suspected it had to do with his nightly routine, as this was the only thing that had changed.

Over the next two weeks Andy experimented with his routine and finally came to the conclusion that if he brushed his teeth several hours before going to bed. That simple change has made a big difference to Andy and Karen. Andy deduced that when he brushed his teeth just before retiring, the toothpaste was making him a little dehydrated. It was enough to dry out the nasal passages and cause him to breathe through his mouth making the snoring noise. By brushing earlier he didn’t suffer the same dehydration and was able to breathe through his nose the whole night through. Now Andy also realized that toothpaste alone shouldn’t be able to have such a major effect.

The chance of eliminating your snoring by changing when you brush your teeth is probably less than one in a thousand. Andy’s problem probably is your problem. The key is to find the system that is out of balance and work to set it right. You never know, you may only need the smallest of change. Is it worth the effort? You decide.