Snoring Device

Introduction

There are a variety of product types on the market, each with their pros and cons. This allows for you to identify better what kind of solution would work given situations that are unique to you. Let’s take a look at what’s out there.

Mandibular Advancement 

Snoring Device The name sounds scientific and confusing. Put, mandibular advancement devices (MADs) are mouthpieces, and they work to shift your jaw (mandible) forward to tighten the upper tissues of the airway. This prevents the vibrations these tissues produce- your loud snoring- from occurring. Think of watching a flag wave in the wind. If you were to walk up and hold it taut, these waves (vibrations) would cease.

MADs also allow you to breathe more efficiently while you sleep. Since airway tissues are made tauter, you can breathe in larger volumes of oxygen through the night.

Pros

• Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine reports MADs are comparable to Continuous
• Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) ventilators regarding overall effectiveness in preventing snoring
• Useful for those with misaligned jaws
• Can help for those who grind their teeth
• Convenient and typically easy-to-use
• Many affordable options
• Many can be custom-fit using the boil and bite process

Cons

• Can cause dry mouth
• Known to cause mouth-soreness, especially during the initial nights of use
• Known to cause drooling, especially as you adapt to the product

Nasal Strips

Most of us have seen these small strips that adhere across the bridge of the nose onto the sides of each nostril. Originally intended to help those with congestion from sickness and allergies to breathe more easily, they work to open up the nasal passageway for quiet breathing.

Pros

• Can prevent dry mouth experienced by those who struggle to breathe through their nose
• Daytime and nighttime use possible
• Comfortable

Cons

• If you tend to breathe through your mouth naturally, it will defeat the purpose of putting a stop to snoring

Chin Straps

Much like nasal strips, chin straps weren’t originally designed with the snorer in mind. Instead, they were focused on use for patients who recently underwent various types of facial surgeries. It was discovered that by fitting the chin strap over the head and face, the lower mandible is supported to help keep the airway free through the night.

Pros

• Useful for people who snore through the mouth
• Can prevent mouthpiece from falling out if you use one with your chin strap

Cons

• Those who toss and turn often experience difficulty in keeping the device in place
• Not for those who suffer from nasal snoring or sleep apnea (In fact, it can even be dangerous if you suffer from a condition that causes severe nasal congestion- talk to your doctor before considering the use of Anti Snoring chin straps).
• Finding the right size can be difficult if you don’t have an average-sized head
• Because the lower jaw is so immobilized, some experience the development of teeth-grinding while sleeping

Some complaints of causing facial overheating

Snoring has become so prevalent that living with a snoring partner is often accepted as a part of life and jokingly dismissed. Unfortunately, living with a snorer can lead to serious relationship issues as sleeping together in the same room can eventually become a problem.

Those who have to deal with a snoring partner usually end up searching for a solution and quickly become overwhelmed with all of the available products from nasal strips, throat sprays, herbal remedies, nasal dilators, mouthpieces, rings, as well as some other snoring solutions.  In fact, there are more than 300 snoring products currently registered with the US patent and trademark office.

As a snorer, I have tried several of the mentioned products and above all, have found the Mandibular Advancement Device (MAD), or mouthpiece to be the most effective. For most who are trying to decide upon a solution, product safety always seems to be a concern. That being said, let’s examine some of the safety concerns that one may have when it comes to using one of these devices.

Before getting started, here’s a brief explanation of how these devices work.

OSA2In a nutshell, a traditional a MAD resembles an athletic mouthguard and is placed into the mouth at night before going to bed. The device fits around your teeth and holds the lower jaw forward. Doing so opens a restricted airway which is the most common area where snoring occurs. A more in-depth explanation of how these devices work can be found here.

Those who have an interest in treating a snoring problem with such a product usually question the safety of a snoring mouthpiece.

For about three decades now, mouthpieces have been used to treat snoring and in some cases, mild to moderate OSA. They have been issued by dentists for a number of years, and when used as prescribed and under the right circumstances, these are generally considered to be safe.

As with any other medical device, there is always an exception when it comes to safe use. Below are a few potential safety issues that you may want to consider.

Sleep apnea

CPAP machine One of the most significant safety concerns when it comes to using a mouthpiece to prevent snoring is whether or not there is a presence of what is known as sleep apnea. Sleep apnea occurs when there is a momentary pause in breathing while asleep that can often last for several seconds. It just so happens that snoring may be a sign of sleep apnea.