According to a BBC News article, snoring occurs in as much as 50 percent of adult men and 40 percent of adult women. Chronic snoring can be a sleep killer---both for you and your loved one. That snoring sound is caused by vibrating soft tissues in the oral passageway, like the soft palate, uvula, and tongue. When you sleep, these tissues relax, and sometimes, they block the airway. Air passing over these tissues while you breathe causes the noise. While there are several devices that claim to relieve snoring, the three best anti-snoring devices are oral appliances, continuous positive airway pressure devices, and nasal strips.
Oral Appliances
Make an appointment with your dental specialist. They can custom make an oral appliance for you to help combat the snoring. The appliance typically resembles an orthodontic retainer, mouthguard, or denture. According to the Mayo Clinic, oral appliances help reduce chronic snoring by positioning your lower and tongue so your airway remains open while you sleep. Oral devices for snoring are simple to use and in most cases, comfortable to wear.
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure
The Sleep Therapy Clinic of Australia tells us that Continuous Positive Airway Pressure, or CPAP devices, were invented more than 20 years ago and remain the gold standard for treating breathing disorders during sleep. CPAPs consist of a mask, which the snorer wears over the nose, which connects to tubing and a pump system. The pump works by inflating the oral passage open so that nothing obstructs the airway while the patient is sleeping. Although these devices are extremely effective, they are cumbersome and more expensive, and are usually only prescribed for patients with more serious underlying disorders, like sleep apnea.
Nasal Strips
For a quick and simple anti-snoring device, head to your local drugstore and pick up some over-the-counter nasal strips. The nasal strips typically help decrease snoring caused by congestion by adhering to the nose and holding the nasal passage open for better breathing. These strips are cheap and harmless, and in a study conducted by Avesta Hospital in Sweden, use of the Breathe Right brand of nasal strips led to a statistically significant reduction in snoring.
