Garfield really looks cute snoring away to glory. Unfortunately we don’t. Snoring has been the butt of jokes for centuries. We like to laugh about it, mostly at the expense of others. Hence it stops most people from visiting doctors to get it treated. However it hasn’t stopped doctors and researchers to create treatments and mechanisms to ensure people have a good sleep without causing unintentional disturbance to their partners. Snoring is the resonant noise generated when the airway to breath is partially obstructed during sleep. Generally, our muscles are relaxed while we sleep. This causes the structures of the nose and mouth to fall back against the throat constricting the airway. Snoring can be caused due to various health and lifestyle factors like allergy, medications, tonsils, obesity, drinking alcohol, etc. Till the 90s the CPAP (Continuos Positive Airways Pressure) was the most practiced medical treatment for snoring and other Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). It is a machine constituting of a high flow fan, a hose and a nasal mask. Though it was pretty effective and it had certain negatives as well. Patient compliance became difficult as movement was restricted due to the apparatus, high noise level of the machine, skin irritations and less intimacy with the partner caused concerns. From the mid 90s airway dilators or snore guards were seen as an alternative to CPAP.Though not as effective it is a good option for mild and moderate cases. It works great for people who do not prefer CPAP or have not responded to CPAP, and for people who frequently travel.It is more comfortable than a CPAP unit and hence results in more compliance. It is also convenient to carry along while travelling. Snore Guards make less noise and are easily adjustable. Treatment with these oral appliances is non-invasive and reversible. Some patients might face excessive salivation or dryness, soreness in the teeth or jaw and minor teeth movement. But definitely the pros outweigh the cons significantly.
Snore Guards connect the lower jaw to the tongue. Whenever the lower jaw moves forward the tongue and epiglottis will be lifted away from the back of the throat, thus relieving some constriction in the airway caused by relaxation of muscles during sleep. Both sets of teeth need to be healthy for using this appliance. However dental implants can be a solution if a person does not have adequate teeth to support the snore guard. The additional benefit is it also prevents people from grinding their teeth during sleep.
Mainly two categories of snore guards are in use presently. The most commonly prescribed is Mandibular Repositioning Device (MRD). It helps in repositioning the lower jaw, tongue and soft palate. Additionally the muscle tone of the tongue is also increases by the use of MRD. The second type is known as Tongue Retaining Device (TRD).The TRD advances and holds the tongue forward actively to open the airway for breathing, thus its not able to fall backward and constrict the airway.
The first step to availing a snore guard is to visit a dentist who offers one. Snore Guards provide best results when they are customized accurately according to the jaw and teeth shape of a patient. Generally a dentist would ask a patient to bite into a blank guard made of transparent plastic that has been boiled in water for about a minute. The boiling makes the plastic soft and once the patient bites into it the guard it allows it to take the correct form. Then the excess material is trimmed off. Snore guards are majorly available in the fixed jaw, semi adjustable and fully adjustable variant. They Guards are available on a number of websites on the internet. However it is advised to visit a dentist before one starts to use it. These anti-snoring devices can cost 30$ or more depending on the fitting.
There are a number of treatments for snoring and OSA ranging from herbal to surgical to exercise. Most of them are expensive and require a lot of discipline. Snore Guards offer a reasonable remedy. Use of them coupled with other measures like avoiding alcohol and tobacco, establishing a proper sleep pattern and weight control can prove very useful in combating snoring. Research says that nearly half of the grown up population of the earth suffer from snoring and a number of divorces happen due to snoring. Well accepting the fact that snoring is a problem that requires attention and a little bit of discipline can go a long away in giving a peaceful night’s sleep to you and your partner.