Snoring is a vexing problem and one of the leading causes of sleep deprivation both in the snorer and in his or her sleeping partner. Because it is such an age-old problem with no clear cure, there are all kinds of wild ideas about curing snoring. The truth is, stopping snoring is very individual. What works wonderfully in one person may not work at all in another. There is often a lot of trial and error involved in solving the snoring problem.
Anyone with a snoring problem should bring it to the attention of their doctor. Sometimes heavy snoring accompanies a serious problem called sleep apnea, where the snorer actually stops breathing periodically. Not only does sleep apnea disrupt sleep, it can be deadly. Pro football player Reggie White died from sleep apnea at age 43 back in 2004. Since that time, research into sleep apnea and snoring has increased some, but there is still no one technique, device, or procedure that can stop snoring in all cases. It’s a frustrating problem, and there is no shortage of solutions offered for it.
Anti Snoring Devices
Anti snoring devices are generally appliances of some sort that fit into the mouth and attempt to keep the snorer’s airway open enough so that the tissue in the back of the mouth doesn’t flap together, causing the characteristic snoring sound. Some are barely noticeable, and some might look pretty ridiculous, but most snorers (and their partners) are willing to try just about anything to stop snoring.
Nasal Strips
The least expensive of the stop snoring devices is the nasal strip. Costing only a few dollars, these are small, springy adhesive strips about an inch long that are placed across the bridge of the nose. The “springiness” causes them to pull up on and expand the nostrils in an attempt to make it easier to breathe through the nose, the theory being that if you can breathe well enough through your nose, you won’t start breathing through your mouth, which is where a lot of snoring begins. The great thing about nasal strips as stop snoring devices is that even if they don’t work for snoring, they’re handy for the next time you have a head cold, because they help keep the nasal passages open.
Nasal Dilators
Nasal dilators are stop snoring devices that are inserted into the nostrils for wear during sleep. Like nasal strips, they keep the nasal passages open in an attempt to make mouth breathing unnecessary.
Throat Sprays
Throat sprays aren’t exactly stop snoring devices, but they are an over-the-counter treatment for snoring that is relatively inexpensive. The sprays consist of lubricating oils that make the back of the throat nice and smooth, reducing vibrations during sleep. The risk is that overuse of throat sprays can cause throat irritation, which can lead to snoring once again.
Mouthpieces
Mouthpieces are stop snoring devices that generally cost in the US$15 to $25 range and can be bought over the counter. They look very much like the mouth guards that people wear for sports. Some of them come with instructions for custom molding them to your mouth. They work by pushing the lower jaw forward slightly so that the soft tissue in the back of the mouth doesn’t have something to flap against. Like the nasal strips, these anti snoring devices are effective in some people and not for others.
CPAP Machine
The great thing about nasal strips and mouthpieces is that they’re relatively unobtrusive, and even if they don’t work you haven’t lost that much money. Neither of those can be said about the stop snoring device called a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine. It’s a combination humidifier, face mask, and associated tubing, so it isn’t very comfortable and it looks something Darth Vader would wear. It also has the effect of making the bedroom look very clinical, as the machine sits bedside feeding a continuous supply of pressurized, humidified air to the snorer. But in many cases, it really works, and users consider the relief from snoring to be well worth the cost and hassle.
Dental Devices
Some dentists make custom stop snoring devices that are similar to the mouth piece devices, but are made out of acrylic or metal, and they are molded to your exact mouth shape. They are, of course, more expensive than over-the-counter mouthpieces, but in some cases the true custom fit is the difference between relief from snoring and more sleepless nights for a partner.
Palatial Implant
A recent development in stop snoring devices is a surgically implanted device called a “palatial implant.” Surgically inserted with the aid of local anesthesia, these small plastic implants that are less than an inch long are implanted into the soft tissue in the back of the mouth, holding the tissue up and out of the way. It isn’t so much the implants that do the job as it is the scar tissue that builds up around them, stiffening the soft palate so that snoring vibrations stop. It’s expensive, and isn’t covered by most insurance plans, but it is gaining a track record for being effective in stopping snoring.
Sandler pillow
Stop snoring devices don’t necessarily deal directly with the snorer’s nose and mouth. There are other devices that aim to position the snorer so that snoring is less likely. One of those devices is called the Sandler Pillow. It is made to pitch the sleeper over onto his or her side. This usually results in nasal breathing, which effectively dampens snoring noise.
Snore Ball
The Snore Ball is one of the stop snoring devices that is worn on the back (rather than in the mouth) while sleeping. For example, sometimes the snore ball is put inside a pouch in the back of the pajamas. Any time the snorer starts to sleep on his or her back, the sno re ball makes back sleeping painful, encouraging the sleeper to remain asleep on his side. Some people use tennis balls or even baseballs in this way and find that as they get used to sleeping on their side, the ball becomes unnecessary over time.
Sleep Position Monitor
Sleep position monitors are stop snoring devices that have the same objective as the snore balls do: to keep the snorer asleep on their side. Whenever the snorer changes position to back sleeping (the position in which snoring is most pronounced), the monitor beeps. The downside is that the beeps wake up sleeping partners too, so they can be just as disruptive as the actual snoring. However, the theory is, once the snorer is used to side sleeping, the device will no longer be necessary.
The Snore Stopper
The Snore Stopper is actually several types of stop snoring devices that comes in several variations. It can be placed around the arm or around the wrist, where it provides a mild shock (th e strength of which can be adjusted up or down) when snoring is detected. It can also be used directly on the tongue to stimulate tongue muscles, causing them to contract and open the airway. While some snorers claim that these stop snoring devices work beautifully, others say that they develop resistance to the shocks and must dial the shock level higher and higher until finally they exhaust the capabilities of the machine.
Stop snoring devices are based on a lot of different theories about what causes snoring and what makes it stop. If a snorer finds out he or she has sleep apnea, then it is an issue that’s best dealt with according to medical advice. For plain, non-apnea snoring, however, it is easy to start out with inexpensive devices like nasal strips and if they don’t work, moving up the price scale as needed. It should also be noted that weight loss of 10% or less of body mass (a 200-pounder losing 20 lbs., for example) can stop snoring because you lose weight from the neck and chest, helping airways remain open.
There are many stop snoring devices to choose from. Finding the best one may involve some trial and error, but it is entirely possible that one of the less expensive devices will work very well.
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