What is Snoring?

Snoring is the sound heard when the soft tissue at the back of the throat vibrates during breathing. The windpipe is narrowed and it is harder for you to breathe in and out.

Snoring can increase with age as the muscles at the back of the throat sag. Snoring also increases with weight as there is more fat in the tongue and back of the throat narrowing the airflow path. Alcohol and smoking make snoring worse.  

Young, slim people also snore. This may be caused by a narrow 'set back' lower jaw with crowded teeth. A bent nasal septum, enlarged tongue, tonsils or adenoids may also play a part.

Obstructive Sleep Apnoea occurs when the tongue relaxes and goes so floppy during sleep that it blocks the airway.  

The airway remains blocked for some time so the heart beats faster to get more oxygen to your organs – increasing blood pressure. The oxygen deprivation sends a signal to the brain to gasp for air and you gasp to re-establish breathing. This temporarily unblocks the airway, however the muscles relax again and the cycle repeats over and over again.  

Snoring and sleep apnoea disrupts your sleep and can leave you feeling tired during the day affecting your concentration and memory. Some people are irritable with a general lack of energy and fatigue. Sleep apnoea is associated with high blood pressure, stroke, heart attack, acid reflux, diabetes, nocturnal urination, dementia, depression and anxiety, reduced libido and erectile dysfunction.  

Worn only at night, the mouthguard clicks onto your teeth to hold the lower jaw slightly forward. As the tongue is attached to the lower jaw, the tongue is held forward thus opening the airway and increasing airflow. It fits discretely and completely within your mouth reducing or eliminating snoring and the harmful risks associated with sleep apnoea.  

The mouthguard works in a similar way to an orthotic in your shoe that holds you in correct alignment as long as it is worn. You are still able to open and close your mouth, yawn, drink water or speak. It is smaller than a sport mouthguard and slightly larger than invisible braces. It can be made with no metal parts.   It is most similar to a “grinding splint” that a dentist makes to stop damage to your teeth by clenching or grinding. If you need a grinding splint, the sleep apnoea mouthguard can protect your teeth from grinding / clenching / bruxism at the same time as treating your snoring and sleep apnoea – bonus!  

You can carry it in your pocket – and your hand luggage. 

Snoreology is not affiliated with any particular appliance manufacturer and therefore we can recommend the style of mouthguard that is best suited to you.

Logic would suggest that the further forward your jaw is held, the more open your airway becomes. However this can put a strain on your teeth and jaw joints. So to ensure you are comfortable, all our mouthguards are able to be adjusted in small increments to bring the lower jaw forward slowly. You are always in control of how far you advance your mouthguard so that you can be comfortable at all times.