Before you can determine the potential solutions for your snoring issues, you must find out what kind of snorer you are. A variety of devices and therapies are available that address each of the different types of snoring problems. You can identify the type of snorer you are by taking the following simple tests: Nasal Blockage Snorer Prolonged nasal congestion can lead to headaches as it reduces the amount of oxygen that is supplied to your lungs. Nasal congestion increases your risk for sleep apnea. Possible Solutions for Nasal Blockage Snorers: Tongue Base Snorer Possible Solution for Tongue Base Snorers: Oral sleep devices like the SomnoDent (a type of MAS appliance) helps to treat your breathing condition by bringing your lower jaw forward during sleep. The MAS is customised to fit your individual teeth and mouth. Consisting of a set of splints for your upper/ lower jaws, the oral device may be titrated (fine-tuned) to ensure optimum comfort and effectiveness throughout the treatment process. At Elsternwick Sleep and Snore Clinic, you can always count on having a dentist who specialises in sleep apnea to supply and fit your Mandibular Advancement Device. Our highly trained team of dental practitioners will be able to deal with any unforeseen dental problems that may occur during the treatment phases. Following the successful fitting of the appliance, all you have to do is show up for regular checks at the dentist’s office so that our clinicians can periodically adjust your device to fit better. Mouth Breather Mouth breathers are at higher risk for infection. This is because the air you inhale during sleep bypasses your nose and upper sinuses and reaches your lungs without being filtered – the tiny hairs and substances in your nostrils act as a cleansing filter. Mouth breathers are also at higher risk of choking when sleeping. Due to the body’s effort to compensate for the lack of filtering, choking becomes a natural bodily reflex to expel the tiny particles and dust. Possible Solution for Mouth Breathers: Oral shield: An oral vestibular shield promotes breathing through the nose by effectively blocking the mouth. It is an affordable and convenient treatment for curbing the effects of mouth breathing including dry mouth and bad breath. Mouth spray: This works by gently lubricating the vibration-prone areas of your throat to reduce snoring. It is directly administered to the soft palate in a fine mist. Soft Palate Flutterer Chin-up’ strips Multifactorial Snorer Mandibular Advancement Device (MAD) Other solutions to stop snoring Lose weight
Close your mouth, press one nostril with your finger and breathe normally. If the other nostril collapses when you inhale, try holding it open with a cotton bud stick. Now try the same test with the other nostril. If your breathing eases when you prop the other nostril open, you are most likely a nasal sleeper. The aim of this test is to assess whether or not you have stuffed sinuses.
Nasal strips: They work by holding your nostrils open for easier breathing.
Nasal dilators: Reduces snoring by supporting the nasal cavity and preventing it from collapsing during inspiration.
Nasal sprays: Improves Obstructive Sleep Apnea by helping to unblock the nose. Taking days or weeks to work, nasal sprays do not fully control OSA and tends to be ineffective if there is a permanent nasal blockage.
Stick your tongue out and hold it gently between your teeth. Try to make a snoring sound. If it sound is markedly reduced when your tongue remains in this position, you are probably a tongue base snorer. That means that your tongue may be interfering with normal airflow when you breathe during sleep, because it is resting deep in the base of your mouth.
Mandibular Advancement Device (MAD): This dental appliance works by repositioning the mandible such that it keeps your tongue from obstructing your airway during sleep. The mandible is the lowest facial bone that holds the teeth in place (lower jaw).
Try to make a snoring sound with your mouth open. Close your mouth. If you find it difficult to snore with your mouth closed, you are most likely a mouth breather. That also means that you sleep with your mouth open. If that is the case, you should also experience dryness of mouth in the morning as mouth breathing causes the soft palate of the mouth to dry out. Mouth breathers may suffer from nasal congestion, hence resort to breathing through their mouth as an alternative.
Chin-up’ strips: These comfortable strips provide external support that prevents the mouth from falling open during sleep. Not only do they help to reduce snoring, ‘chin-up’ strips reduce dry mouth and sore throats by keeping the mouth closed at night.
If none of the abovementioned tests have helped to assess your breathing condition, it is possible that you are suffering from palatal flutter. That means the cause for your snoring is due to the vibration of your soft palate. Snorers who are not overweight tend to fall into this category.
Possible Solutions for Soft Palate Flutterers:
Mouth spray
You may also fit into more than one categories, in which case more than one treatment method may be required. For example, some people suffer from both tongue base snoring and palatal flutter.
Possible Solutions for Multifactorial Snorers:
Mouth and nasal spray
‘Chin-up’ strips
Nasal dilator
Nasal strips
Besides the solutions outlined above, there are many treatment options ranging from change in lifestyle habits to surgical procedures that can help with excessive snoring issues. You can discuss the following ways of countering the effects of snoring with your health professional:
Apply medications – including steroids and/or allergy treatments
Ear, Nose, Throat (ENT) surgery
Quit Smoking
Lower or stop alcohol consumption
