How To Stop Snoring

Dummies’ Guide On Stopping Snoring

Once again, here’s the million dollar question a lot of people are asking about – how to stop snoring with snoring aids? Quite alarmingly, the number of snorers around the world is on the rise. To complicate matters more, the problem is admittedly not just a threat to the snorer’s health – it is also becoming quite a nuisance to those living with him (or her). If you live or sleep with a snorer, you definitely know what I’m talking about.

For those of you who are lucky enough not to be disturbed by the nocturnal noise a snorer makes each and every night, let me assure you – the problem is quite serious. The noise an average snorer makes can be compared to the steady, irritating noise an operational lawn mower, an industrial vacuum cleaner or a running motorcycle (without a muffler) makes!

Attesting to the seriousness of the matter is the number of snoring aids in the market today. Can you believe that there are more than 300 anti snoring aids and devices registered with the US Patent and Trademark Office? Indeed, the snoring problem has become a very rewarding business.

Aside from making some healthy lifestyle changes (good diet, regular exercise routine, tongue and throat exercises), taking anti snoring medications, practicing other alternative anti snoring therapies (yoga, meditation, reiki), and expensive surgeries (UPPP, laser surgery, thermal ablation palatoplasty), there are several snoring aids that can help solve the snoring problem. This includes anti snoring devices (anti snore pillow, snore ball, nasal strips and nasal dilators, throat sprays and several other electronic anti snore devices) and oral appliances (tongue retraining appliances, mandibular advancement appliances, adjustable positioning appliances, palate lifters and CPAP).

So, how do these devices help put a stop to snoring? Let’s take a closer look!

You can experience quieter nights by changing your sleeping position – guaranteed! There are several patented versions of the anti snore pillow available in the market today. These snoring aids work by providing a firm head and neck support to the snorer and encourage him to sleep on his side.

Why is this important? Well, it’s because most snoring occurs when a person sleeps on his back. Sleeping in this position allows the tongue to fall backward into the throat thereby causing obstruction to the air passages. And when the air cannot flow freely, snoring occurs.

The same principle applies to the good ol’ snore ball. It also encourages you to sleep on your side to prevent snoring. The snore ball can be a tad uncomfortable especially when you try to change positions when you sleep. But hey, that’s precisely the point. And that’s why it’s so popular – the snore ball keeps you sleeping on your side!

Fewer obstructions mean less snore. There are several snoring aids that can keep your air passages free from obstructions including the nasal strip, the nasal dilators and the various oral appliances such as the mandibular advancement appliance (MAA) and the tongue retraining appliance. How can these snoring aids help put the snoring issue to rest? Here’s how!

The nasal strip is one very affordable solution that can help solve your snoring problems. It basically looks like a bandaid that attaches to the bridge of your nose. It works by opening up your nasal valves so that air can flow freely. Plus, the fact that nasal strips are non-medicated and are available without a prescription makes it a very good choice for taking care of your (or your partner’s) snoring problems!

The nasal dilators work in more or less the same principle. However, these are often inserted in the nostrils as you sleep to help keep your air passages open.

The tongue retraining appliance uses suction power to move the tongue forward in an effort to prevent it from obstructing the air passages. The MAA, on the other hand, is a specially designed mouthpiece (usually custom made by dentists) that works by positioning your jaw forward as you sleep. Well, this can be a bit on the pricey side but if you can find one that fits you comfortably in your local drug store, it may work just as well and save you some dollars, too!

A little bit of discomfort is what some people need to change their habits. And this is precisely the principle under which most anti snoring electronic devices work. There are snoring aids that send a little jab of electricity when they sense snoring vibrations while some lights up or emits a beeping sound when the user starts to snore. The effectiveness of these devices varies but some swear that it works for them.

Now you know how to stop snoring with snoring aids. Isn’t it time to choose which one will work for you?

Snoring is becoming quite a serious problem. Attesting to this is the wide variety of snoring aids in the market today. But do you need them? If you are having some troubles getting sleep with your spouse’s consistent “nocturnal symphony”, the answer is quite simple. Your spouse do!

It’s a sad fact – snoring does not only affect the snorer. It can also be a problem for those sleeping and living with them! While snoring can have some damaging complications to the snorer’s health, it can very well cause those sleeping with them to lose hours of quality sleep and thus, lead to daytime fatigue, headaches and moodiness. As such, it can ultimately result to poor work performance and the collapse of the relationship between a snorer and his/her spouse.

Nobody wants these things to happen. Not even the snorer himself! But before resorting to expensive surgeries (which may be complicated and counterproductive, to say the least), why don’t you try these different snoring aids to eliminate or minimize the problem first? Here’s a list of the most popular snoring aids in the market today:

Anti Snoring Pillows

Soft, fluffy pillows encourage snoring so it’s probably the best thing to avoid them at all cost. Instead, you can buy some specially designed anti snoring pillows to help curb your spouse’s snoring. These pillows are usually made from foam and are designed to encourage the snorer to sleep on his or her side. It can’t be avoided that there will still be some vibrations, but since sleeping on one’s side generally keeps the mouth closed, the snoring will greatly be reduced!

Snore Balls

The snore ball dates way back from the 20th century although more modern versions are now out in the market. This device is placed on the snorer’s back and works by keeping him on his side while he sleeps. And that curbs the snoring!

Nasal Valve Dilators

Among the most common types of nasal valve dilators are the nasal adhesive strips and the nasal sprays. For affordable snoring solutions, the nasal strip (a strip you can wear over the bridge of your nose while sleeping) can be one of your best choices. It opens up your nasal passages and may keep you from snoring. These can be purchased even without a prescription and are non-invasive. However, the problem with nasal strips is that they may fall off as you sleep and may cause skin irritation.

Nasal sprays, on the other hand, work by reducing the swelling and congestion of your nasal tissues which may result from a cold or flu. The main disadvantage of nasal sprays is that long term use can be addictive, and may cause undue damage to the delicate mucous membranes leading to some complications including heart arrhythmias and the perforation of the nasal septum.

Aside from the nasal strips and the nasal sprays, there is another type of nasal valve dilator known as nasal braces. These snoring aids are inserted into the nose to widen the air passages. However, this one can be very uncomfortable to use.

Anti Snoring Mouthpieces

There are several types of anti snoring mouthpieces available in the market today. There are those which hold the tongue in place while you sleep (tongue retaining appliances) and there are those which bring your lower jaws forward to keep the throat tissues from obstructing the air passageway.

Of these two, the latter (called the mandibular advancement appliance or MAA) is considered to be the safer and more effective alternative. Why? Simply because the tongue retaining appliances can mess up with the snorer’s ability to swallow during sleep, and may also obstruct the person’s upper air passageways.

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Appliances (CPAP)

The CPAP is a special mask that is often used to treat serious snoring problems by providing a continuous flow of oxygen through the nasal air passageways.

Sleep Position Monitor

This electronic anti snoring device encourages the snorer to make sleeping on his side a habit. As soon as the snorer changes his position from sleeping on his side to sleeping on his back, the device will emit a beeping sound prompting him to go back to his original sleeping position.

As you can see, there are a lot of snoring aids available so there’s really no reason to put up with snoring. So, go ahead and let your significant other try which works best for him and finally discover how to stop snoring!