Mouthpieces to Stop Snoring: How They Work and Their Benefits

Snoring can become quite the nuisance for both you and your partner. For some, snoring is embarrassing or annoying. For others, snoring can be a symptom of an underlying health issue. A quality night’s sleep is extremely important for productive days and key to a high quality of life.

When you sleep, the muscles in your throat relax, which can cause your airway to narrow or become blocked. This obstruction leads to vibrations in the throat tissues, which can create the characteristic roar of snoring. 

Among the many solutions available, snoring mouthpieces have gained popularity for their effectiveness in reducing and eliminating snoring. Understanding how these mouthpieces work and the benefits they offer can help you make an informed decision about how to best treat your snoring.

These mouthpiece snoring devices are designed to either move your lower jaw slightly forward or hold your tongue in place, ensuring that your airway remains open throughout the night. This helps to minimize the vibrations and greatly reduce snoring.

The benefits of using a snoring mouthpiece extend beyond just experiencing quieter nights:

✅ Improved Sleep Quality

✅ Reduced Daytime Fatigue

✅ Better Overall Health

Snoring mouthpieces provide a highly effective, non-invasive solution for individuals struggling with snoring. By understanding the causes of snoring, exploring different device options, and carefully selecting a mouthpiece that will work best for you, you can significantly improve your sleep quality and overall well-being. 

Understanding the Causes of Snoring

As we fall from a lighter sleep to a deep sleep, our tongue, throat, and soft palate muscles relax. The tissues in your throat can relax to a point in which your airway can become partially blocked. When your airway becomes more narrow, the force needed to breathe becomes greater, increasing tissue vibration, causing your snoring to become louder.

Among other things, it’s important to understand the underlying causes of your snoring. Several factors may contribute to your snoring, ranging from your anatomy to your daily habits. The most common causes of snoring include: 

• Anatomy of Your Mouth and Sinuses: If you have a low and thick soft palate or large tonsils, your airways are more likely to be narrow. Similarly, if the triangular piece of tissue that hangs at the back of your throat (the uvula) is elongated, airflow can become obstructed and vibration can increase

• Relaxation of Your Throat Muscles: During sleep, the muscles in your throat and tongue relax, which can in turn lead to your airway becoming obstructed, leading to snoring

• Obesity: Excess weight, particularly around the neck and throat, can put pressure on your airway, increasing the likelihood of you snoring

• Nasal Congestion: Blocked nasal passages due to allergies, colds, or structural issues (such as a deviated septum) can force you to breathe through your mouth which can worsen snoring

• Alcohol Consumption and Sedatives: These substances further relax the throat muscles and decrease your body’s natural defenses against airway obstruction, which makes obstruction even more likely

• Sleep Position: Sleeping on your back can lead to your tongue and soft tissues collapsing backwards, restricting your airflow and causing you to snore more frequently

• Age: As we age, our throat muscles lose tone, making them more prone to snoring

• Your Biology: Men are more likely to snore or have sleep apnea than women are. Having a family history of snoring or obstructive sleep apnea could also pose a potential factor in your troubles with snoring

Snoring has been linked to conditions such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a disorder that can lead to more severe health problems if left untreated. By addressing snoring with a mouthpiece, you may lower your risk of developing complications associated with OSA, such as high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. 

If your snoring is associated with a diagnosis of OSA, you may be more prone to experiencing complications and some negative effects of a lack of quality sleep:

❌ Daytime Sleepiness

❌ Frequent Frustration or Anger

❌ Difficulty Concentrating

❌ High Blood Pressure, Heart Conditions, Strokes

❌ Increased Risk of Motor Vehicle Accidents 

By Identifying the cause of your snoring, you’ll be able to determine whether or not a mouthpiece to stop snoring is the right solution for you or if you need to explore alternative treatments. Explore more Mouth Guards for Sleep Apnea: Some of the Best Devices to Stop Snoring.

Different Types of Anti-Snoring Devices

There are a variety of anti-snoring devices, each designed with their own specific targets focused on root causes of snoring. These devices can also positively impact the quality of sleep for those with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea. The main devices include:

Oral Appliances are form-fitting mouthpieces that help to advance the position of your jaw, tongue, and soft palate in order to keep your airway open. They can be sold over-the-counter or prescribed by your dentist or doctor. Some examples of oral appliances include:

• MouthShield - MouthShield is a flexible and durable device that sits between your lips and teeth, creating a secure and comfortable seal around your mouth. It allows you to breathe freely through your nose while keeping your airway open. 

By reducing airway obstruction, it decreases snoring and improves your sleep quality. In comparison to other oral appliances, Mouthshield has its own benefits:

✅ Comfortable and Easy to Use

✅ Easily Trimmable for a Custom Fit

✅ Easy to Apply and Remove

✅ Free Jaw Movement

• Mandibular Advancement Devices (MADs) - These oral appliances are usually molded to fit your mouth and teeth, and work by gently moving your lower jaw forward, preventing your airway from collapsing. While they are widely used and are often adjustable to provide a comfortable fit, it’s important to work with your dentist to ensure the fit and position of the appliance is comfortable and will work best for you.

• Tongue Stabilizing or Retaining Devices (TSDs or TRDs) - These devices fit between your teeth and hold your tongue in a forward position, preventing it from falling back and blocking your airway. TSDs and TRDs are particularly useful for people whose snoring is caused by tongue obstruction, rather than jaw position.

Some of the potential side effects of these oral appliances include:

❌ Excessive Salivation

❌ Dry Mouth

❌ Jaw Pain

❌ Facial Discomfort

Snoring mouthpieces can provide a plethora of benefits that other snoring treatment alternatives cannot. However, it is important to make informed decisions about your snoring and sleep treatment. Some of the popular alternatives to snoring mouthpieces and oral appliances include: 

• Nasal Strips and Dilators - While not mouthpieces, nasal strips and dilators work by opening up your nasal passages, reducing the need to breathe through your mouth and potentially lowering snoring frequency. 

• Positional Therapy Devices - These devices encourage side sleeping, which can help reduce snoring caused by sleeping on your back.

• Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) Machines - Typically prescribed for the treatment of sleep apnea, CPAP machines use pressurized air to keep your airway open. They can eliminate snoring associated with obstructive sleep apnea. While effective, the noise of the machine and feel of the mask can be cumbersome and uncomfortable for some users.

• Upper Airway Surgery - There are numerous procedures that aim to open your upper airway and prevent narrowing during sleep. However, these surgeries can be quite costly, the effectiveness of these surgeries can vary, and it can be hard to predict how your body will react.

Each of these solutions have their own advantages, but the best choice for you will depend on the specific causes of your snoring and your comfort preferences.

How Mouthpieces Compare to Other Snoring Solutions

When it comes time to choose a new snoring mouthpiece, it’s important to consider different factors such as effectiveness, comfort, the cost of the mouthpiece, and how easy it is to use.

• Effectiveness - Mouthpiece snoring devices, like MouthShield, MADs, and TRDs, have been proven to significantly reduce or eliminate snoring. While CPAP machines may be considered the gold standard for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea, mouthpieces provide a less invasive and more comfortable alternative for those with mild to moderate cases

• Comfort - While some mouthpiece wearers may experience initial discomfort, they are widely considered easier to adapt to when compared to traditional CPAP masks. TRDs may cause drooling or tongue soreness, and MADs may cause jaw discomfort until you become accustomed to them and how they fit in your mouth

• Cost - Mouthpieces to stop snoring are relatively affordable when compared to CPAP machines or costly surgical procedures. There are a multitude of over-the-counter options, and custom-fitted devices that your dentist can prescribe, that can provide an extra measure of comfort and durability 

• Ease of Use - Unlike CPAP machines, which can require a power source and regular maintenance, mouthpieces are simple to use and easy to clean. Are you a frequent traveler? Mouthpieces also offer a portability that many other alternatives cannot

Snoring mouthpieces offer a practical and effective solution for snoring, especially those that are looking for a non-invasive and cost-effective alternative to more complex treatments

Looking for more reasons to invest in a mouthpiece to stop snoring? Look no further: Effective Ways to Reduce Snoring | Sleep Better with MouthShield.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Snoring Mouthpiece

When it comes to you choosing the right mouthpieces to stop snoring, there are several key considerations: 

1. Fit and Comfort - An adjustable or custom-fit mouthpiece will be ideal to ensure maximum comfort and effectiveness. It is important to choose a mouthpiece that will work best with your anatomy 

2. Type of Snoring - Is your snoring due to your jaw position or tongue obstruction? It’s important to determine the cause of your snoring in order to select the device that will best address your needs

3. Material Quality - Ensure that the mouthpiece is made of medical-grade materials that won’t irritate your mouth, cause allergic reactions, or further health risks

4. Ease of Cleaning - Regular maintenance is crucial to ensuring the lasting effectiveness of your mouthpiece. An ideal mouthpiece will be easy to clean to allow for hygiene maintenance and durability

5. Breathing Compatibility - Some mouthpieces allow for mouth breathing, something important for those with nasal congestion

6. Durability - Consider how long the device is expected to last, as some mouthpieces may need to be replaced, or even remolded, more frequently than others

7. Side Effects - It’s important to be aware of the potential side effects of different mouthpieces, such as jaw soreness or excessive drooling, and choose a device that will minimize your negative experiences

Tips for Maximizing Effectiveness and Comfort

Here is some advice for ensuring that your mouthpiece snoring device will help you to enjoy a better night’s sleep:

• Allow for an Adjustment Period - It may take a few nights or even weeks to get used to wearing your device. Start by wearing your mouthpiece for short periods before bedtime to get used to how it feels in your mouth and any potential side effects to expect

• Maintain Good Oral Hygiene - Clean your mouthpiece regularly and practice good oral hygiene to prevent bacteria from building up and causing potential irritation

• Stay Hydrated - Dry mouth can be a side effect of some devices, so drinking plenty of water can help alleviate any discomfort you might feel 

• Avoid Alcohol and Sedatives Before Bed - These substances can worsen your snoring, which might make your mouthpiece less effective

• Use a Custom-FIt Device if Possible - A dentist-fitted mouthpiece may provide better comfort and longevity compared to over-the-counter alternatives

• Replace the Device When Necessary - Most mouthpieces have a lifespan of about six months to two years. Replace yours as needed to ensure its continued effectiveness

Ready for quieter, more restful nights? Explore how MouthShield can provide an effective and comfortable solution to stop snoring!

Bibliography

“How to Stop Snoring: 10 Ways to End Noisy Nights.” Sleep Foundation, 14 May 2021, https://www.sleepfoundation.org/snoring/how-to-stop-snoring.

“What Are the Common Causes of Snoring?” National Sleep Foundation, 12 Nov. 2020, https://www.thensf.org/what-are-the-common-causes-of-snoring/.

“Snoring - Symptoms and Causes.” Mayo Clinic, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/snoring/symptoms-causes/syc-20377694.