There are all kinds of remedies, treatments, and devices to help people stop snoring. Google "stop snoring" and you will get over a million results. Google "snore mouthpiece" and you will get over half a million results. Snoring is definitely big business. And mouthpieces are a big part of that business. You can spend anything from a few bucks to a few hundred bucks for a mouthpiece. What will you be getting for your money?
The first thing you need to do is determine what is causing you to snore. Depending on the cause of your snoring, a mouthpiece might be of no help at all. If you snore through your nose, for example, and a lot of people do, a mouthpiece may not work for you, no matter how expensive it is, although there are some mouthpieces that specifically state that you should breathe through your nose while sleeping for their product to work best.
A stop snoring mouthpiece, or mandibular advancement splint, works by gently moving the jaw slightly forward, helping to keep the airway unblocked during sleep. Sometimes the tongue slides to the back of the mouth during sleep, obstructing the airway and causing snoring. Some mouthpieces will hold the tongue forward as well as the jaw.
Some mouthpieces are available by prescription only, through a dentist. The cost includes examinations, fittings, and the device itself. It may cost several hundred dollars, but the device will be custom fitted and therefore should be quite comfortable, with no irritation anywhere in the mouth.
There are a number of "boil and bite" snoring mouthpieces available and they are moderately priced. The device is first soaked in hot water to soften it and then molded to the jaw by biting down on it.
One thing to be aware of when deciding on a snore mouthpiece is how hard the plastic is. Some devices are fairly hard and users complain of sore jaws or irritated gums. While all mouthpieces will be uncomfortable for a few days, the ones made of hard plastic in general seem to be harder to get used to.
No comments:
Post a Comment