Do Mouth Guards Help with Snoring?

Snoring is an incredibly bothersome problem that impacts millions of individuals worldwide and is more widespread than one might think. Depending on its severity and frequency, this condition can range from mildly annoying to a serious health concern requiring medical attention.

Unfortunately, snoring is not typically something an individual discovers on their own but is often pointed out by their sleeping partner. It can be downright embarrassing to learn that you have been keeping your partner awake most nights due to loud and heavy snoring. If you are dealing with snoring, a mouth guard may be just what you need.

Understanding Snoring and Its Causes

For many people, snoring is more than merely a nighttime nuisance. Snoring usually occurs when the flow of air through the nose and mouth is partially blocked during sleep, causing the tissues in the throat to vibrate and generate a snoring sound. The most common causes of snoring include:

Poor muscle tone in the tongue and throat
Nasal congestion due to sinus infections, allergies, or colds
Sleeping positions, such as sleeping on the back, which can cause the tongue to fall backward into the throat
Excess tissue in the throat due to obesity or other factors
A long soft palate or uvula that narrows the airway
Relaxed throat muscles causing the airway to collapse or narrow

Even though snoring occasionally is not a matter of concern, chronic snoring requires medical attention because it can signify something more serious. For instance, it can indicate a more significant problem called sleep apnea, specifically obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which we will delve deeper into.

What is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder in which a person’s breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep. This condition can result in restless sleep and snoring, causing the sleeper to wake up frequently throughout the night.

People with sleep apnea often suffer from chronic fatigue and feel tired all the time due to a lack of proper, restorative sleep. The most prevalent cause of sleep apnea is a blockage of the upper airway, which can prevent a person from breathing for 10 seconds or more. Multiple factors can contribute to this blockage, including:

Large tonsils
Large tongue
Blockage of the nasal passages
The shape of the airway and jaw
Excess tissue in the upper airway

Sleep apnea is quite common and generally affects men more than women. However, if you are obese or overweight, your chances of developing sleep apnea are significantly higher.

Besides causing chronic fatigue and daytime tiredness, sleep apnea can lead to a myriad of severe health concerns, including heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, and even heart failure.

Therefore, it is crucial to address snoring and its underlying causes promptly to enhance both your and your partner’s sleep quality and mitigate the risks of these severe health problems.

Fortunately, sleep apnea is treatable, and with the right treatment, your snoring problem can also be alleviated. Your healthcare professional might prescribe a CPAP machine to deliver a constant supply of oxygen while sleeping.

Others might benefit from oral devices or special mouth guards that can significantly minimize the effects of sleep apnea.

Introduction to Mouthguards Through Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT)

If you or someone you know is struggling with snoring or sleep apnea, you are likely looking for solutions to boost overall health and improve sleep quality.

One of the most effective treatment options for snoring and sleep apnea is the use of mouthguards, specifically those used in Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT).

OAT involves the use of custom-made oral devices or mouthguards, which sleep apnea patients wear while sleeping to keep their airways open. These dental devices are known for treating snoring and are ideally suited for individuals with mild to moderate cases of OSA.

Additionally, they are a suitable treatment choice for individuals who find the more well-known CPAP therapy intolerable due to its less intrusive nature. The compliance rate with OAT is significantly higher, likely because of its ease of use, convenience, and comfort. Compared to CPAP therapy, OAT is more:

Portable: Mouthguards are portable and comfortable, making them ideal for travel and use on the go.

Effective: OAT is superior and more effective in enhancing sleep quality and minimizing snoring in people with mild or moderate sleep apnea.

Non-invasive: Unlike complicated, invasive, and painstaking surgical interventions such as uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP), OAT is non-invasive and doesn’t require hospitalization or risky surgical procedures.

People who snore may find relief using custom-fitted mouthpieces specifically designed to minimize snoring. These dental devices decrease snoring by either holding the tongue in place, widening the airway, or both.

While using a mouthguard, your tongue or lower jaw is repositioned to keep the airway open during sleep, preventing airway tissues from collapsing and causing snoring.

There are many different kinds of mouthguards available, each designed to cater to various preferences and needs. Mouthguards can be:

Over the counter
Custom fit
Adjustable

Over-the-Counter (OTC) Mouth Guards

Over-the-counter mouthguards are readily available in stores and are relatively inexpensive. Typically made of thermoplastic material, you can heat them in hot water and mold them to fit your mouth.

While OTC mouthguards are convenient and hassle-free, they often do not provide an ideal fit, making them less effective than custom-fitting mouthguards..

Custom-Fit Mouth Guards In Aurora, IL

These tailor-made mouthguards are created collaboratively by sleep specialists and dental professionals after taking impressions of your teeth and mouth.

Custom-fitting sleep apnea mouthguards are more effective, comfortable, and convenient than OTC versions because they are explicitly tailored to your teeth formation and dental structure.

However, due to the customization factor, custom-fit mouthguards are more costly and often require a visit to the dentist.

Adjustable Mouth Guards

These oral appliances allow for adjustments to the extent of advancement of the lower jaw. This customization can be especially useful for individuals in finding the most comfortable and effective position to minimize snoring.

Some adjustable mouthguards are available over the counter, while others usually require professional fitting.

How Mouth Guards Help with Snoring

Sleep apnea mouthguards function by slightly repositioning the lower jaw and tongue forward. This movement helps to constrict the upper airway muscles and soft tissues, preventing blockage during sleep.

With this simple mechanical adjustment, your snoring problem can be significantly minimized or even eliminated. The benefits mouthguards offer in addressing snoring include:

Muscle Relaxation

Mouthguards aid in relaxing the throat and tongue muscles, which are often the main culprits behind snoring. By allowing the lower jaw to stay in a slightly protruded position, mouthguards stimulate muscle tone and prevent it from collapsing into the airway.

Expanding the Airway

The primary function of mouthguards is to reposition the lower jaw forward, which is essential for expanding the airway and preventing it from collapsing during sleep. The increased airway space significantly reduces the chances of airflow blockage and snoring.

Custom-Fit for Maximum Effectiveness

When a sleep specialist or dentist prescribes a mouthguard, it is custom-fitted to ensure optimal effectiveness and comfort. This tailored approach enhances the mouthguard’s ability to improve sleep quality and minimize snoring.

Compliance and Comfort

Traditional CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) therapy can be slightly uncomfortable or intolerable for some people due to its bulkiness and noise. This is where mouthguards come in, offering a relatively more comfortable experience. Oral devices or mouthguards are easy to use, small, and do not make any noise or require a power source.

Moreover, the non-intrusive nature of these devices and the comfort they provide typically result in better adherence and compliance to sleep apnea treatment. They can be quite comfortable for sleep apnea patients once they get accustomed to wearing a mouthguard.

Improved Sleep Quality

Using a mouthguard can significantly improve your quality of sleep and overall health and well-being by minimizing or eliminating snoring. Additionally, these devices can also enhance your partner’s quality of sleep.

In general, better sleep quality contributes to better health, an uplifted mood, and increased energy levels.

Non-Invasive

Mouthguards serve as a non-invasive alternative to CPAP therapy and other surgical treatments for obstructive sleep apnea and snoring. For most individuals, these mouthguards are the preferred option because they avoid the recovery time and consequences associated with surgery.

They are also reversible, so if one type of mouthguard fails to work, you can opt for another type or consult a professional to make adjustments, all without any long-term consequences.

Types of Sleep Apnea/Anti-Snoring Mouth Guards

The two main types of sleep apnea mouthguards used in Oral Appliance Therapy are Mandibular Advancement Devices and Tongue Retaining Devices. Let’s look at each of them in detail.

Mandibular Advancement Devices (MADs)

These oral devices look much like sports mouthguards and operate by shifting the lower jaw (mandible) forward and constricting the soft tissues and upper airway muscles. With this advanced jaw position, the airway opens up, and the space at the back of the throat tends to increase. As a result, the chances of the airway collapsing drastically reduce.

Advantages of MADs
Comfort and Custom Fit	MADs are usually worn like a mouthguard. They are tailored to the wearer’s dental structure to ensure optimal comfort.
Adjustable	Most MADs are adjustable, enabling the jaw position to be fine-tuned for optimal effectiveness.
Versatility	MADs are significantly effective for people with snoring problems or mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea.

Tongue Retaining Devices (TRDs)

TRDs are oral devices that use suction to hold the tongue in an advanced position. This prevents the tongue from falling back into the throat, which can block the airway passage and lead to episodes of apnea or snoring.

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Advantages of TRDs
Straightforward Design	TRDs have a straightforward design and are much easier, simpler, and less bulky to work with.
Minimum Adjustment Period	Most people will find it easier to get used to using TRDs.
Does Not Require Jaw Movement	TRDs are most suitable for people who are unable to use MADs because of jaw problems.
Ideal for Individuals with Tongue-Related Obstructions	TRDs are especially useful for individuals whose sleep apnea or snoring is mainly caused by the tongue pushing backward.

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Essential Considerations for TRDs and MADs

Both TRDs (Tongue Retaining Devices) and MADs (Mandibular Advancement Devices) ultimately have the same goal: reducing snoring. However, they use entirely distinct mechanisms and techniques to achieve this outcome in most cases.

Here are some essential factors that will help you determine which type of mouthguard works best for you.

Customization

MADs offer users a range of customization options. Most of these mouthpieces fall under the boil-and-bite models with trays made of thermoplastic, allowing the user to create a custom mold for their teeth.

However, this degree of customization is not available in TRDs. While most TRDs are designed for a universal fit, there are a few models available in various sizes to cater to different sleepers.

Adjustability

Some MADs allow users to adjust and control how far the mouthpiece moves their jaw forward, typically in increments of 1 mm. On the other hand, some MADs do not allow for manual adjustments, featuring hinge mechanisms that automatically adjust to the individual’s mouth. Unfortunately, TRDs do not allow for any adjustments.

Comfort

Some sleepers prefer the jaw-advancing sensation of a MAD over the suction of a TRD, and vice versa. It is best to consider both TRDs and MADs to determine which device provides optimal comfort. Consult with your doctor about both options to see which device works best for you.

Prescription Requirements

While many anti-snoring mouthpieces are available over the counter, some oral devices require approval from your dentist, doctor, or sleep specialist, and a prescription.

Most prescription oral devices consist of custom-fitted MADs for the lower and upper teeth, created using dental impressions. Your dentist will provide the device and you will need to visit for routine checkups to ensure the mouthguard fits and works well.

Ease of Cleaning

To achieve optimal results, it is recommended to rinse your anti-snoring mouthguard in hot water after each use. If you choose a mandibular advancement device, it is important to scrub the lower and upper trays to prevent bacteria buildup.

Some brands of MADs also provide proprietary cleaning solutions. A toothbrush and toothpaste might also work. However, if you opt for a tongue retaining device, ensure you clean the internal parts of the tongue opening.

Most of these mouthpieces come with protective cases, but if not, always store your oral device in a clean place when not in use.

Conclusion: Is Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT) Right for You?

Mouthguards used in Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT) serve as an effective and practical solution for most individuals experiencing mild to moderate episodes of sleep apnea or snoring.

By keeping the airway open, these oral devices can significantly improve your quality of sleep and alleviate many health risks related to sleep disorders. Both MADs (Mandibular Advancement Devices) and TRDs (Tongue Retaining Devices) offer benefits tailored to different causes of airway blockage.

As a convenient, comfortable, portable, effective, and non-invasive treatment option, OAT stands out as an ideal alternative to more invasive and cumbersome treatments like CPAP therapy or surgery. These devices provide a pathway to more peaceful, healthy, and quiet nights of uninterrupted, restorative sleep.

Despite the availability of other treatment options like surgery or CPAP therapy, OAT remains a promising and superior solution for managing and treating sleep apnea and snoring for many.

However, it is important to consult with your sleep specialist or doctor to determine if it is the right treatment choice for you. Factors such as dental health, the severity of sleep apnea and snoring, and individual preferences play a vital role in this decision.

Rest assured, if you opt for OAT, our healthcare professionals at Midwest Sleep Center will ensure that your mouthguard fits you perfectly for optimal effectiveness and comfort.

If you suspect yourself or anyone suffering from snoring or sleep apnea, contact us now and do not let your snoring or a sleep disorder like sleep apnea impact your and your partner’s sleep. Our qualified doctors can guide you with the right diagnosis and devise a suitable treatment plan that will help you with snoring.