Snoring Aids

There are a variety of snoring aids available to help reduce and stop snoring. Nasal strips are inexpensive and can be brought from drug stores. The strips are placed across the bridge of the nose to expand the nostrils, which enable breathing through the nose to be easier and lessen the chance of breathing through the mouth which often results in snoring.

Mouth pieces, which are moulded to fit around the teeth are another snoring aid which can be brought 'over the counter' and fitted without the need to visit a dentist or doctor. They are made from a man made material which is pliable when heated, similar to gum shields worn by amateur sports players. Many of these less expensive mouth shields are sold with instructional DVDs to help a good fit to be achieved. Once moulded the shield is placed into the mouth and work by preventing the lower jaw from dropping back and open during sleep. Other models which are custom made work on similar principles, these offer the benefit of being made explicitly for the wearer and take into account previous dental treatments and permanent fixtures, however, they can be quite expensive. It may be advisable to try a mouth shield which is moulded at home to ensure that the snorer is able to sleep wearing a mouth shield throughout the night. Mouth shields can also be used to help prevent teeth grinding during sleep.

If the snorer stops breathing, gasps or chokes as part of their normal sleep pattern these mouth shields must not be used and alternative snoring aids will need to be sought. Mouth shields should not be worn by anyone under the age of eighteen and those with dentures or very few teeth, have poor oral hygiene and require any dental treatments should seek the advice of a dentist before attempting to wear a mouth shield. Likewise if the snorer suffers from any pain in either the upper or lower jaw, or has gum problems a dentist should be consulted before attempting to wear a mouth shield.

An alternative snoring aid is a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure device which consists of a face mask, humidifier and tubing. The mask is attached to the teeth, the tube is connected and provides a continuous supply of pressurised humidified air into the mouth to stop the upper airway from collapsing. This equipment is often used to treat obstructive sleep apnoea.