What is a Stop Snoring Mouthpiece?
If you are a heavy snorer you are unlikely to be popular if you ever have to share a bedroom! Until you realize that you have a problem, you are unlikely to try and do anything about it. A stop snoring mouthpiece is just one of your options depending on what type of snorer you are.
Firstly, you need to ascertain what causes you to snore. For example, are you a “tongue based snorer” where your tongue slips back and obstructs the airway or perhaps a “mouth breather” where the air being sucked in can create a lot of vibration; which may, or may not be because of an abnormality in the construction of the nasal passages or small nostrils that would force you to breath through the mouth. Stop snoring mouthpieces are one option that may work if vibration is the problem.
Before you use your stop snoring mouthpiece for the first time, it needs to be fitted/moulded to your mouth and when subsequently worn, it acts by keeping the mouth and tongue in the correct position and stopping the vibration. There are two types of stop snoring mouthpieces, one you can mould to fit yourself and the other has to be fitted by a dentist. This “mandibular advancement device” actually moves the jaw and tongue forward by between 0 and 12mm (depending on the specific device), raising the soft palate and thus preventing any blockage of the airways that could lead to snoring.
If you have false teeth, gum disease or any mandibular joint dysfunction you should always take professional advice first. If buying a self-fitting device watch for whether or not any sideways movement is accommodated, and/or the ease of any possible mouth breathing as this is not possible with all devices.
There are of course other options besides the stop snoring mouthpieces. Other possibilities such as anti-snoring pillows, nasal and throat sprays, medications, exercises, or perhaps changes to the diet before you even consider surgery that is of course the most drastic option.
Remember, what works for one person may not work for another which of course goes hand-in-hand with the different reasons as to why people snore. It is not a bad idea to consult a medical practitioner before you start buying any products. If you don’t like the thought of putting a stop snoring mouthpiece device into your mouth all night, why not think about one of the anti-snoring pillows or another consider the use of specific exercises.