However, the most common cause of a narrowed airway
is a tongue muscle that becomes too relaxed during sleep
and gets sucked back into the throat with each breath
taken (refer to MRI images). Snoring occurs because air
travels faster through a narrow tube than through a broad
one. This rapidly moving air causes the relaxed soft tissues
of the throat (tonsils, soft palate, uvula or excessive
"abby tissue) to vibrate. It is this vibration that creates the
sound of snoring. By keeping the airway open, air travels
more slowly, reducing throat vibrations and thus reducing
or stopping snoring. One of the most effective ways
of keeping the airway open during sleep is by holding the
tongue forward.