Recently updated on September 24th, 2024 at 08:53 pm
Snoring is a common problem among adults, though this condition has also been observed among children.
As people sleep, several muscles in the mouth relax, such as the soft palate, the tongue, and the throat. As the throat relaxes, its tissues may block the airway and vibrate. This creates the snoring sound, which may get louder the more constricted the airway becomes. There are also instances where the tongue blocks the airway because of the person’s sleeping position.
Listed below are several factors that may cause or contribute to snoring.
- Being a man
- Having a thicker and low-lying soft palate and a narrow airway
- Obesity
- Sleep deprivation
- Alcohol consumption
- Respiratory problems
- Sleeping positions that constrict the airway
- Having a family history of sleep apnea
Aside from the discomfort, it may bring, snoring can also cause some side effects, such as having low energy during the day, feeling more frustrated or angry, and having difficulty focusing. To address this problem, you may opt to use a snoring mouthpiece.
There are many ways a snoring mouthpiece can help you eliminate snoring and sleep better. Here are some of them:
1. Opens The Airway To Improve Breathing
A snoring mouthpiece helps widen the airway as your mouth relaxes during sleep. This oral appliance keeps your lower jaw forward to prevent airway constriction. As a result, the air can pass through the airway with ease. This will lead to quieter, more comfortable breathing and eliminate snoring as early as the first use.
2. Comfortable To Use During Sleep
Mouthpieces are designed for comfortable wear during sleep. This enables you to get used to wearing it regularly. Though some may take time to get used to it, most users find it comfortable to wear because of its slim design.
When using a snoring mouthpiece, you’re free to sleep in any position. Also, you can get the same level of comfort whether you breathe through your nose or mouth during sleep. Given this, using a snoring mouthpiece allows you to sleep as you prefer while improving your breathing.
3. Easy To Personalize Fit
To use a snoring mouthpiece, you may need to consult a doctor or dentist for a more accurate fitting. Meanwhile, you can also opt to use over-the-counter mouthpieces that you can adjust on your own for a secure, comfortable fit. A snoring mouthpiece kit usually comes with specific instructions to ensure the device fits your mouth and teeth perfectly.
Before you use it for the first time, you’ll need to immerse the mouthpiece in hot water for about a minute. After cooling it down for a few seconds, you may insert the device in your mouth and bite down gently to create custom teeth impressions. This creates a personalized fit for every user, and some may also have added screws for more precise custom adjustments.
Additionally, over-the-counter mouthpieces are usually designed to fit both men and women, so you can easily purchase one from retail stores or online and use it right away.
4. Promotes Adequate Rest
Since a snoring mouthpiece allows more space for the air to pass through comfortably, breathing becomes easier for the user. Because of this, the quality of sleep improves, too. Being able to breathe adequately helps the body achieve the relaxation required for quality sleep.
If you’re dealing with frequent snoring, you may find it challenging to feel restful at night because of heightened consciousness of your breathing. This will keep your body and mind alert, which can keep you up at night. When using a mouthpiece, you’ll feel less worried about your breathing and more at ease to sleep as usual.
5. Allows Flexible Use
It may be more challenging to achieve the comfort and relaxation level you need to get a night of restful sleep if you’re travelling or having to sleep with the company. However, having a snoring mouthpiece will allow you to sleep comfortably since you can take it and use it anywhere. It’s also easy to clean and store, making it convenient for you to get adequate sleep anywhere you go.
To clean a mouthpiece, you can use your toothbrush and toothpaste and wash gently as per product instructions. You can also use denture tablets or special cleaning solutions made for this device.
Using specialized devices such as a snoring mouthpiece to alleviate snoring may be helpful, especially in the early stages of treatment. To maximize the use of these devices, you may also find it beneficial to adopt some lifestyle changes that are widely believed to help people sleep better at night and reduce snoring. Here are some suggestions:
- Sleep on your side.
- Use pillows specially designed to alleviate snoring.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Create a clean and relaxing sleeping environment.
- Reduce alcohol intake.
- Establish a regular sleep routine.
- Stay hydrated.
Snoring can be challenging to eliminate, and it may require you to try several solutions before you find one that would work best for you. Also, results may vary depending on one’s health condition and habits. However, many patients observe that combining remedies with positive lifestyle choices produces ideal results.
Conclusion
Depending on its severity, snoring can be disruptive to your health and lifestyle. It makes it difficult to get quality sleep, which is essential to your well-being. This will have a domino effect on other aspects of your health and wellness. Aside from this, snoring can also be considered a sign of health conditions such as obesity and sleep apnea.
Therefore, it’s vital to seek treatment immediately once you recognize a snoring problem. This will not only relieve you of the discomfort and inconvenience but may also help prevent other more serious conditions from developing. Also, doctors usually recommend lifestyle changes that would help you eliminate snoring for the long term. These lifestyle changes would help you achieve better health in the long run, making them worth a try.
In addition, snoring can also disrupt your household, especially during bedtime. Though it may seem like a minor concern, it may become a problem in the long run if not addressed promptly. As such, it’s best to seek help right away and eliminate snoring for good.
