If you’re having trouble sleeping or you’re disrupting someone else’s quality of sleep, then it’s important to assess your options. It’s not only important for the benefit of your loved ones, but for your own health and wellbeing too.
An anti-snoring night guard, often referred to as a mandibular advancement device, is used to help you sleep quietly by gently shifting the lower jaw forward. It opens up the airway and prevents the soft tissues in your throat from vibrating, which causes snoring.
So, how do they improve sleep quality, and how does that contribute to a quieter, more restful night’s sleep?
- Increases Airway Space
An anti-snoring night guard is effective in increasing airway space. By holding the lower jaw in a forward position, the device prevents the throat muscles as well as the soft palate from collapsing.
This increases the air space at the back of the throat and helps reduce the sound or frequency of snoring in general.
Snoring is typically caused by air passing through a restricted and narrow airway. This makes the tissue vibrate as mentioned above. Having a wider opening due to a night guard can help allow air to pass freely and quietly.
- Controls the Tongue
An anti-snoring night guard, it prevents tongue blockage, which causes snoring. The tongue is attached to the lower jaw, so when this part of the jaw is pushed forward, the tongue is also moved away from the back of the throat.
Controlling the tongue with this device helps to prevent blockage of the airway.
- Provides Specific Types of Relief
Anti-snoring guards will provide specific types of relief depending on the causes and symptoms you’re experiencing. These include the following:
Mandibular Advancement Device
These are the most common types of night guards used, resembling sports mouth guards. These connect the upper and lower teeth to move the jaw forward.
Tongue Retaining Device
A less common and usually custom option is a TRD – a tongue retaining device. This holds only the tongue forward using suction.
Custom-Made vs Boil-and-Bite
There’s also the difference between immediate, over-the-counter, ‘boil-and-bite’ options and dentist-customized devices. The custom ones are fitted to your teeth, meaning it provides better comfort and precision versus the ones you can get over-the-counter.
- Improves Sleep Quality
Anti-snoring night guards are a great addition when needing to improve your sleep quality. By improving airflow, these devices help to stop that constant, loud snoring, and this leads to a deeper, less interrupted sleep as a result.
The use of anti-snoring night guards decreases the frequency of apnea episodes. Those who experience mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea can use these night guards to keep the airway open. While night guards can help with mild to moderate cases, more severe sleep apnea may require additional treatment approaches.
The devices themselves are typically made of soft and flexible, medical-grade materials, ensuring comfort is found when wearing them over long periods of time.
Further Considerations
An anti-snoring guard might not be for everyone. These devices work best for snoring caused by throat tissue vibrations, and it may also take some time to get used to wearing them to bed.
The effectiveness of the night guards is also generally more effective than the use of over-the-counter options.
The owners and authors of Cinnamon Hollow are not doctors and this is in no way intended to be used as medical advice. We cannot be held responsible for your results. As with any product, service or supplement, use at your own risk. Always do your own research and consult with your personal physician before using.
Meg is an author at Cinnamon Hollow. She writes on a variety of topics sharing tips and ideas for daily life.
