Snoring is one of the issues that people may not know they have unless someone tells them about it. Snoring may sometimes happen once in a while, especially if you go to sleep after a very tiring and stressful day. This may be considered normal if it does not happen often. However, problems arise when you are snoring every time you go to sleep.
For those people around you, their sleeping patterns may be disrupted because you may constantly wake them up with your snoring. This needs to be checked by a physician since snoring may be a symptom of a serious disease. Also, physicians, like a dentist, may be able to give you a solution in the form of anti-snoring devices.
Snoring As a Dental Problem
Some people may not know about it, but snoring may be caused by bad oral health conditions. Sleep apnea is a serious health condition caused by this, and many people do not even realize they have this problem. This is a disorder where there is a constant interruption of your breathing while you are sleeping. You may not be aware, but the interruption of your breathing can give you a sudden jolt that would wake you up for a very brief period. Sleep apnea can be obstructive.
This means that there is something that is blocking your upper airway. This would cause the chest muscles and diaphragm to work harder than normal. The reason for this is that your airway must be opened to pull air into your lungs. The obstruction of the upper airway causes the person to snore loudly and regularly.
As the tissues and muscles get closer to each other, they tend to vibrate more when you are breathing and this causes the loud snoring sound. Dentists may be able to check if you have sleep apnea or other dental issues that cause you to snore. Some of the signs that may lead to a dentist finding oral health issues include high blood pressure, diabetes, enlarged tonsils, enlarged tongue, or obesity.
Different Types Of Anti-Snoring Solutions
Sleep apnea and other serious health issues should be brought to the attention of a licensed physician. These health problems have long-term effects, which is why they need to be carefully diagnosed and treated. However, when it comes to the issue of snoring that these health issues produce, dentists are able to help patients find solutions so that they can sleep peacefully together with their loved ones or bed partners. Dentists may be able to recommend a specific type of anti-snoring aid, which may depend on the patients’ preferences and cases. You may refer below to the various types of anti-snoring aids:
- Mandibular advancement device (MAD)
o This is one of the most common anti-snoring devices available on the market. This is used for patients whose snoring is caused by the vibration of the base of their tongues. This mouthpiece type of anti-snoring device is aimed to push the lower jaw and the tongue forward to effectively increase the space for air to flow into the pharynx. MADs can be purchased ready-made, or they can be customized by dentists to fit the needs of their patients. For some people, they may experience pain in their faces and jaws during the initial days of wearing these devices. Patients that have strong gag reflexes are not advised to use this type of anti-snoring device as they may feel constant discomfort wearing this. In addition, patients that have some dental issues may not be allowed to use this type since there are cases where the teeth may shift or that there may be some pain or discomfort felt on the patient’s tooth.
- Tongue stabilizing device (TSD)
o Another type of anti-snoring device that is meant to prevent the tongue from falling back during sleep is the TSD. For this device, the patient’s tongue will be held by its tip and is slightly suctioned. As the tongue is pulled further away from the back of the throat, snoring is effectively eliminated. Most patients prefer this type of anti-snoring device since it does not cause any discomfort to the jaw. Since it is meant to hold on to the tongue, the device does not affect the patient’s teeth preventing them from shifting. Also, patients with dental problems do not have to worry when they use this type of anti-snoring device. However, patients have reported that this device has caused them to salivate more, which may feel awkward during the first few days of using the device.
- Non-oral anti-snoring aids
o There are also other types of anti-snoring aids that are not meant to be placed inside a patient’s mouth. A chin strap is one of the most well-known of the non-oral aids for snoring. This device is meant to prevent the patient from breathing through the mouth. This means that the patient is forced by the device to breathe through the nose. This aid is in the form of a headgear that the patient wears during sleep. The device is made from an elastic cloth. Depending on the level of elasticity of the material, it may not be too effective in pulling up the bottom jaw upward to force the mouth to be closed. Also, people who may have allergies or are experiencing colds may find it hard to use this type of anti-snoring aid. Another type of a non-oral anti-snoring aid that people use is the nasal dilator. This type of anti-snoring aid is placed on the patient’s nose during sleep. This is meant to help widen the space inside the nose for air to pass through. When there is resistance to the air flowing through the nose, the tissues lining the soft palate and the uvula start to vibrate. This causes the snoring sound.
Cost Of Anti-Snoring Devices
Being able to sleep peacefully while waiting to heal from major health issues is the goal of most people. This is why people prefer to wear anti-snoring devices to ensure that they get their needed rest. Also, family members and bed partners prefer it that patients find ways to effectively end their constant snoring. There are anti-snoring devices that are ready-made, which are known to cost less than those that need to be customized by dentists to fit the preferences of their patients. You may refer below to the average cost of anti-snoring devices within the region of Ontario:
- Ready-made mandibular advancement device: CAD 80 – CAD 150
- Customized mandibular advancement device: CAD 1500 – CAD 2500
- Tongue stabilizing device: CAD 90 – CAD 150
- Chin strap: CAD 20 – CAD 50
- Nasal dilator: CAD 10 – CAD 18
Advantages Of Using Oral Anti-Snoring Devices
Based on the average costs of the different anti-snoring aids, you may think that non-oral anti-snoring aids can be enough to help you stop snoring and sleep more peacefully. However, it is important that you do not base the results on the cost alone. There are certain factors that make oral anti-snoring devices more advantageous as compared to their cheaper counterparts. You may refer below to some of these advantages:
- Devices such as MAD can be customized to fit the patient’s oral preference.
o It is normal for patients to feel discomfort during the early stages of using anti-snoring devices. As time passes, patients should be able to adapt to the feeling and will eventually feel comfortable sleeping with any type of device. However, it is important to remember that there may be certain features or requirements that patients need to be included in their anti-snoring devices for these to be effective. Individuals have unique oral features that may need to be considered for their anti-snoring aids.
- Oral anti-snoring devices are not affected by allergies or colds.
o Chin straps and nasal dilators force patients to breathe through their noses. These aids may be effective for some people. However, there may be cases wherein patients are suffering from allergies or colds, which make it hard for them to breathe through their noses. Oral anti-snoring devices ensure that these patients do not run into breathing problems during their sickness.
- These devices have been clinically proven.
o Oral anti-snoring devices such as MADs and TSDs have been clinically proven to be effective in preventing snoring. This is why dentists are recommending that patients use them. In some cases, doctors may prescribe their patients to use specific brands and types of MADs or TSDs.
Follow The Dentist’s Advice
When it comes to using anti-snoring devices, it is best for you to get in touch with a dentist before you decide to buy anti-snoring aids. This is highly recommended since the devices you purchase may not be effective in helping your snoring problem. A dentist will help you identify which type you should use based on your health condition. You may get in touch with Osmin Denture Clinic & Premier Dental Health & Facial Esthetic Center Inc. at 647-294-3310 if you need to undergo an evaluation on the type of anti-snoring device that you should be using.