Here are some commercial anti-snoring products that you may want to try. We spoke with Dr. Glendon Sullivan, deputy director of the Saint John, N.B.-based, Atlantic Health Sciences Sleep Centre, to get his take on them.
His bottom line: there are no magic bullets. All these products target one problem area, but snoring is often the result of a combination of contributing factors.
"Snoring is due to the vibrations of the palate caused by turbulent airflow," explains Dr. Sullivan. "Usually in any one person, there's more than one site of increased resistance," he says. These can include: the nose (due to polyps or a deviated septum), the mouth (because of an overly large tongue), the neck (because of deep tissue fat which compresses the airway) or a jaw which is set too far back.
Without addressing all your problem spots, most anti-snoring products won't hit the mark. But here are a few that could work for you.
Mandibular advancement devices
These include products like the SnoreMate or R.I.P. Snore. The mouthpiece is worn at night and is said to move the lower jaw forward, opening the airway and reducing the vibrations of the palate, thus reducing the snoring noise.
"Long-term compliance is poor and can cause headaches and throw off your dental occlusion," cautions Dr. Sullivan. He also recommends only using oral appliances customized for you by an orthodontist or dentist who specializes in this area.
Breathe Right Nasal Strips
These spring-like bands adhere to the exterior of your nose and help hold nasal passages open so you can breathe deeply through your nose, reducing snoring.
"Breathe Right strips just deal with the nose," says Dr. Sullivan. "But if that is your one problem area (perhaps you suffer from seasonal allergic congestion), that may be fine for you."
Positional therapy pillows
Pillows like the Obus Forme Sleep Obstruction Clearing Pillow encourage snorers to sleep on their sides – not backs. "Positional therapy helps to negate the gravity effects of allowing the tongue to fall back and some people are very sensitive to this and it can work well," says Dr. Sullivan.
But Dr. Sullivan maintains that the 'tennis ball in the pajamas' technique is more effective for keeping snorers on their sides.
Page 2 of 2 -- On page 1, learn how to combat snoring with our at-home remedies.
