Why does snoring occur in the first place?
Snoring impacts thousands of people each night, whether they are snorers themselves or have a bed partner who snores. Snoring occurs when the throat muscles are relaxed and the airway becomes restricted. Often this happens when a person sleeps on his or her back, but it also may occur in people are overweight and have excess fat around the throat, or people who have had alcohol or a sleep aid causing increased muscle relaxation. In the case of a person sleeping in a supine position, the tongue collapses against the back of the throat, restricts the airway and vibrates while breathing. For persons who may be overweight, the structures of the throat may be squeezed, resulting in snoring. In more serious cases, snoring can be indicative of a larger problem such as sleep apnoea, so talk to a doctor about the cause of your snoring.
What are my options to stop snoring?
The remedies to stop your snoring come in a plethora of different forms. While there are several solutions to stop snoring naturally, many people choose to try more prescription and over-the-count methods to achieve instant relief. Some stop snoring devices focus on correcting your breathing while others focus on changing the position of your tongue or jaw when you sleep. Here are some of the most popular anti-snoring devices and how they work:
Theravent Snore Therapy
Theravent Advanced Nightly Snore Therapy is a proven sleep aid that comes in three strengths – LITE, REGULAR and MAX – so even the loudest snorer can sleep soundly. Simply place the strip over the nostrils right before bed each night. The patented MicroValve technology generates expiratory positive airway pressure, or EPAP, that uses the force of your own breath upon exhaling to keep your airway open and quiet through the night. Learn more about Theravent Snore Therapy.
Nasal Strips for Snoring
Nasal strips work to combat snoring brought on by nasal congestion. When placed on the nose, its sides are lifted thus opening nasal passages and providing immediate relief for congestion. Because snoring typically is caused by narrow airways in the throat, nasal strips are best used when suffering from a cold, flu or allergies.
Anti-Snoring Mouthpiece
Anti-snoring mouthpieces work to prevent snoring by holding your lower jaw forward and preventing its collapse while you sleep. The result is an airway that remains open and unobstructed, thus no snoring. Some mouthpieces are fitted to your teeth like a retainer while others are one size fits all.
Stop Snoring Spray
Because snoring is the resulting sound of vibrating and restricted airways, anti-snoring sprays are used to lubricate the soft palate in the throat, thus reducing friction and eliminating or quieting snoring. Other snoring sprays are used to unclog blocked nasal passages allowed for free passage of air.
Snoring Chin Strap
Chin straps are simply fabric that cups your chin and ties atop your head. It firmly holds your jaw forward and mouth closed. This stops your tongue from collapsing against the back of your throat and encourages breathing through the nose. If your snoring is brought on by nasal congestion however, chin straps not only fail to address the problem but may work to your detriment, causing trouble breathing throughout the night.