Tongue Snoring

Tongue snoring is the term used to describe people who snore due to their tongue dropping to the back of the throat during sleep which causes an obstruction to the airway. To find out if the person is a tongue based snorer get them to stick their tongue out as far as possible and grip it with their teeth and ask them to try and make a snoring noise. If they snoring noise is not very loud the it is probable that they are a tongue based snorer.

To prevent the tongue from falling back and obstructing the airway there are devices called Mandibular Advancement Device, MAD, which work by making the lower jaw stay forward which automatically keeps the tongue forward and preventing it obstructing the airway.

There is an alternative device which works by gently holding the tongue forward by suction and like the Mandibular Advancement Device, stops the tongue from obstructing the airway. The Tongue Stabilizing Device is made from soft silicone and at the moment there are no studies that have been substantiated to confirm whether long term use may have any safety implications and reports are saying that this device may not be suitable for many due to the effect the device may have on the tongue and the gag reflexes in some people may also find this device unsuitable. As this is a relatively new concept to help prevent tongue snoring it may be some time before this device or similar devices are readily available.

Those who snore more or louder when they lay on their back are also likely to be tongue snorers and therefore may benefit from being prevented of sleeping on their backs by means of a wedge placed behind the back to prevent rolling over may also help tongue snoring to be reduced.

People who have a 'weak chin', retognathia, where their lower jaw is not properly formed, pushes the base of the tongue back when sleeping which causes constriction in the throat which causes the air drawn over it to vibrate and make a snoring noise. A surgical operation to extend the lower jaw may be necessary to help stop their tongue snoring.