MEDICAL TREATMENT FOR SNORING
For people who are suffering from chronic snoring, you need not lose hope. Several medical treatments are available that would help put a stop to your predicament of having snoring ruin your sleep as well as those of the important people around you. Still, consulting an expert is necessary so you will have a deeper understanding of the available options and be able to arrive at an intelligent choice of plan of action.
- Mandibular advancement splints. These splints push the lower jaw slightly, pulling forward the tongue. These specially-made dental appliances have already proven their effectiveness in reducing snoring and sleep apnea for mild to moderate apnea cases. Over-the-counter cheaper versions are also available in the market. However, in using the more affordable counterparts, setting up the jaw position will be much more difficult. Jaw positioning that is not done correctly will lead to pains in the jaw. These devices are considered as class 2 medical devices in the United States, highlighting the need for prescription prior to purchasing. However, Americans can also buy these devices from another country. In Australia, an approval from the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) can provide manufacturers or retailers the freedom to sell these devices without requiring a prescription.
- Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine. This small device can be used to treat sleep apnea and snoring. During sleeping time, it keeps the airway open by blowing pressurized air into a mask worn over a person's face, mouth or nose. It can also be used for patients suffering from critical illnesses such as respiratory failures. However, one disadvantage of using this option is that the nose mask and hose to the machine look uncomfortable and awkward. Some side effects reported by patients who formerly used CPAP are nasal congestion and rhinitis. The time it takes a patient to adjust to the side effects of this machine usually varies. This machine is widely available across several countries, requiring a prescription. Nasal CPAP is considered the most effective treatment for severe obstructive sleep apnea, even for children. Contrary to the common misconception, CPAP does not present a permanent cure. Thus, the machine has to be worn every night for a lifetime. There is also an alternative to CPAP: bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP) machine.
- Other dental devices, oral appliances, and lower jaw positioners. Other dental devices, that look like athletes' mouth guards, can help push your lower jaw or your tongue forward while you are sleeping, thus, opening your air passageway. Usually, these devices are made of acrylic. They are either fit inside your mouth or around your head and chin.
- Surgeries. To stop severe habitual snoring, several surgical options are also available. They operate by rectifying abnormalities or by increasing the size of your air passageway. Since these surgeries will be quite expensive and risky, consulting a doctor before doing anything further is a must.