According to Merriam-Webster dictionary snoring means to breathe during sleep with a rough hoarse noise due to vibration of the soft palate but if you are going to ask your husband, wife or someone who sleeps with you, he or she may have a different definition. I bet he or she would definitely say that it is a sound so loud and irritating that keeps him or her and your neighbours awake all night! And right now, I think you are determined to try ways to resolve your snoring problems just as much your partner wants you to.

Many people who sleep let their mouth drop open making their jaw fall down. When the jaw falls back, the tongue lifts off from the floor of the mouth causing an obstruction at the base of the throat. This obstruction blocks the airway limiting the easy flow of air creating the “snoring” sound. It will be lucky for you if such obstruction only cause snoring because there are times that this obstruction becomes complete blockage causing a more serious condition known as sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a condition wherein you stop breathing for intervals, some lasts for 10 to 15 seconds causing you to wake up in the middle of the night and gasp for air.

There are a lot of devices that intend to reduce or eliminate snoring. One of these devices is the mandibular advancement device or also known as mandibular splint. They are usually small plastic devices more like a sports type mouth guard worn in the mouth during sleep to prevent the soft throat tissues and your tongue from collapsing and obstructing the airway. The mechanism of this device is to bring your lower jaw forward thereby tightening the soft tissues and muscles.

Your dentist will usually to be the one to fit these special appliances to meet your individual conditions. They can take a mold of your mouth and either send off for a custom mouthpiece or have it done by them. However, you can try a less expensive device that they popularly call the “boil and bite”. This device is made of plastic which you soften by placing in a hot water, biting into the mouthpiece and molding it to your jaw.

The advantages of this device is that it small permitting free jaw movement such as yawning unlike other devices such as chin straps which tightly shuts your mouth. In addition to that, this device also allows the user to breathe though his mouth, which is important for those who are mouth breathers of with clogged nose. This device is widely used in the United States and is increasingly becoming popular in Britain and Israel. Cost efficient, safe and effective so get one now and start having back your snore-less nights tonight!