Snoring is the sound produced from an unstable airflow that causes the tissues of the nose and throat to vibrate during sleep. This condition occurs as a result of a narrow airway (nose, mouth or throat). Snoring may be a sign of an underlying health problem. It may be linked to nasal and sinus problems, excessive body weight or in a more serious note obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
It is very important that you understood the underlying causes so that you will know how to prevent snoring. Narrowing of the airway in the mouth area could lead to palatal snoring. This type of snoring is common among those who breathe through his or her mouth. To prevent this type of snoring, a mandibular advancement device (MAD) is used. This dental device supports your lower jaw (mandible) into a slightly forward position, thus increasing the airway passage preventing loud snoring. A MAD bears a resemblance to an athlete’s mouth guard but is very comfortable to use.
Closed mouth snoring is attributed to the tongue dropping to the back of the mouth thus causing a narrow airway. To remedy this problem, a tongue retaining device (TRD) is used. This dental device pulls your tongue forward very mildly while you sleep. It is virtually harmless because it does not put strain on the users jaw. The TRD uses the principle of going against gravity (rolling of the tongue at the back of the mouth) to prevent snoring.
These are just some of the dental devices that can be used to prevent the occurrence of a bothersome snoring problem. For further questions regarding these devices, you may want to ask your dentist.