You may want to get started by going in for a sleep study at a sleep clinic. They will be able to tell you all of the reasons why you may be snoring; some of the problems may run deeper and need more immediate attention. With all of the reasons that could be causing the snoring some of the most common are: obstructed airway in the nasal cavity, blocked sinuses, obesity, weak muscle tone in the throat or tongue or from the palate and uvula at the roof of your mouth being too long or soft. It is important that you get the correct diagnosis before you even think of treating yourself with a stop snoring device; the problems that you are having can be more serious than anticipated and possibly life threatening.
The first things that you should try once you get the okay from the doctor are the devices that are offered over the counter or OTC. There are a lot to choose from: nasal sprays, saline drops that are a combination of water and salt and nasal strips.
Nasal sprays are good but in time they have been known to have adverse affects on the nasal cavity. Over use them, and they can cause your cavity to become swollen and the mucous to become over productive thus leading to harsh nasal congestion. Saline spray, however, can be used as a preventative for congestion; it is mild enough to use every day and also to irrigate the sinus with.
The most common device that people seem to be using these days are the nasal strips; they hold the nostrils open when you sleep to make breathing a dream.
There are more technical devices out there that you may want to discuss with your doctor. One of them is a chin strap which basically clamps your mouth shut at night so that you do not mouth breathe and therefore snore. This forces the snorer to breathe through the nasal cavity. A dentist can provide you with devices that will prevent the soft throat tissues from collapsing to the back of the throat, hindering the flow of air that moves in and out. These types of devices are usually a mouthpiece or a mandibular advancement splint.
Mary Robertson is a clinician experienced in dealing with snoring and sleep apnea disorders. To learn more about this vital subject please visit our website for more information about stop snoring devices. Also be sure to sign up for our free Snoring Problems Mini-Course on various aspects of problems associated with snoring
