Mouth guards can stop snoring in one of three ways. They hold the tongue down and forward, so it doesn’t fall back and block the airway. They also can jut the jaw forward to stop airway blockage or they lift up the soft palate slightly so more air goes through the passage. Regardless of how they work, you can find them in all price ranges.
While the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine announced that Oral Sleep Appliances were effective for snoring, a study in Switzerland identified them as very effective in the treatment of sleep apnea also. However, nothing comes without side effects and the mouth guards were no different.
Some of the problems reported dryness of the mucous membranes. In fact, almost 86 percent of the patients reported this. Another problem from mouth guards was tooth discomfort in 59 percent of the patients. Finally, even though most had dry mucous membranes, that didn’t stop 55 percent of those using mouth guards from salivating excessively. It obviously fell out of the mouth and didn’t moisten the mucous membranes.
There are various types of mouth guards as mentioned before. Scientists in the UK tested mouth guards that jut the jaw forward, mandibular advancements appliances, on 25 people that snored heavily. The study found that it reduced the loudness of the snoring in 84 percent of the subjects and 76 percent reported less frequent snoring.
However, many of the subjects in another study of 630 people abandoned the use of this device. According to the author, the problem probably stemmed from increased excessive salivation and some, reported their teeth began to shift.
Tongue Stabilizing Devices
This simple bulb shaped soft plastic device looks much like a ball horn, the type where you squeeze the ball on one end and a honk comes through the horn chamber on the other, except your tongue goes into the horn.
You do squeeze the ball and then insert your tongue into the opening at the other end. When you release the ball, it creates a vacuum. Two plastic protrusions at the side prevent the tongue from going back into the mouth completely so it never drops to the back of the throat to block the airway. Since the tongue never blocks the airway, you don’t snore.
This simple piece of soft plastic, however, comes at a salty price. Even though, you’re paying for the design, not the amount of plastic. What looks like it should run at the most, $20 dollars American, runs close to $150 Canadian. However, this device is still far cheaper than specially fitted pieces made at the dentist’s office.
Elastic Mandibular Advancement Appliances
This appliance looks a great deal like those used for people with TMJ, except there’s both a top and bottom clear plastic bridge for the teeth. There are also elastic straps. The straps restrain the mandible and move it slightly forward so your jaw does not drop back, with the tongue, to block the airway.
While there are a number of studies on this device, that show it did reduce the events of sleep apnea by two-thirds. However, since these devices require you to sit for a fitting by the dentist and have a custom-made form for your teeth, the price is quite salty and varies according to fees charged by the dentist. The device is FDA approved.
There are a number of reasons to use these types of devices but unfortunately, aside from the steep price, some people simply don’t react well or have problems with TMJ. The premise is the same for all the devices, keeping the airway open. Here, the dropping of the jaw keeps tension that prevents the collapse of the area in the back of the throat and ultimately snoring.
You can order some of these appliances directly online. You save a bundle by taking the impressions yourself and ordering direct. Instead of paying over $1,000, you only pay over $100. The appliances are the same; you simply save the cost of the labor and all the middlemen.
Devices to Train You to Breathe Through the Nose
These almost looked like ancient torture devices. The concept was to block the oral passage so the user had to breathe through their nose. Since most people that snore are mouth breathers, the logic is that once you increase breathing through the nose, the snoring disappears. They even have training devices for children from three to eight years of age. Although the ones for the young are tongue positioners or pacifiers for babies.
Sites that advocate breathing through the mouth and blocking mouth breathing identify many different areas where mouth breathing is negative. They also note that American Indians trained their warriors to breathe through the nose by making them run long distances with water in their mouth. At the end of the long journey, they spit the water out to pass the test.
These devices for adults seal off the ability to mouth breathe. I would not recommend them for anyone with stuffy sinuses or nasal passages. Dentists must form them to the patient’s teeth so they too are salty in price.
Systems that use Mandibular Repositioner and a Nasal Airway System
These mouthpieces work just like the other mandibular repositioners but the have one extra addition, a way to open up the nasal passages. There are buttons attached to the device that fit under the lip to stretch the upper lip region. By doing this, it pulls on the nasal tissue and helps to clear the air pathway to make nose breathing easier.
Professionals must fit you and design a device especially for your mouth and teeth. This means a high dollar that varies from dentist to dentist.
Most of these mouth guards are similar in design. The only unique one is the one that traps the tongue. It’s simple and doesn’t require an impression of your mouth. The devices do work, as shown by many different studies. If you’re unsure whether one of the devices will help, consider ordering a boil and bite product.
These products form to your teeth after you boil them for a minute or two and then bite down. If you find they work and want to invest in a more permanent solution, find a dentist that specializes in dental sleep medicine to help you when you’re ready to pay the high dollars.