Has your partner been nudging you all night to stop snoring? Do you wake up tired and are sleep deprived because you could not sleep well at night? There are a lot of issues that can crop up when you don’t get a proper night’s sleep on a long-term basis. Usually, the reason is snoring.
Snoring during the night may be an indication that you aren’t sleeping well. It happens when you are unable to move air freely through your nose and throat due to a partial obstruction of the upper airway. Depending on the reason for your airway closing, there are 4 types of snoring to be concerned with – mouth, nose, throat, and tongue snoring. It is that last form of snoring that we’ll be focusing on in this content.
What is Tongue Snoring?
Tongue snoring occurs when the tongue gets so relaxed that is blocks the flow of air into your lungs. This is very common among individuals who sleep on their backs and have difficulty breathing as a result. It may also occur when a person drinks alcohol or takes sedatives prior to bedtime. Excessive fat surrounding the neck can also cause tongue snoring. Two of the more common anti-snoring remediesfor tongue snorers are anti-snoring pillows and MAD’s (mandibular advancement devices) or mouthpieces. These are some of the non-invasive methods of treating snoring.
Are You a Tongue Snorer?
So, what are the two primary causes of tongue snoring? The majority of tongue snorers out there either experience a muscle malfunction wherein the tongue falls towards the back of the throat or they are overweight. The tongue often falls toward the back of the throat among individuals who sleep on their backs, while being overweight, results in an increase of, in the tongue’s mass and volume which makes it harder for you to breathe. Though there are other ways to stop snoring, you need to a few tongue exercises to ensure that the tongue muscles are tight and do not fall back into the throat easily. That is one way of reducing snoring at night.
So how do you know if you’re a tongue snorer? According to the British Snoring and Sleep Apnea Association, there are 3 tests to determine if you’re a tongue snorer:
- Step #1: Open your mouth and make the snoring sound (this shouldn’t be difficult)
- Step #2: Next, shove your tongue out as far as possible and gently bite down on it.
- Step #3: Try to make the snoring sound again. If the snoring noise disappears or gets quieter, there’s a significant possibility that you’re a tongue-based snorer.
Furthermore, tongue snoring is characterized by high-pitched sounds and typically happens to individuals who have an abnormally large tongue or who sleep on their backs. So if your snoring is tongue based, this means that your airway is likely to vibrate at the base of your tongue.
Sleep Apnea and Tongue-based Snoring
Tongue snoring is common among individuals who’ve been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea. Your tongue is comprised of muscles which, during sleep, often relax, lose their tone, and collapse towards the back of the throat, thereby blocking your airway in the process. This is the primary reason why snoring is worse when you sleep on your back. Unfortunately, most snorers fail to realize when they are tongue snorers and if left untreated, it can result in chronic snoring due to airway obstruction.
Surgical and Non-surgical Treatments for Tongue Snoring
A number of treatments for tongue snoring may be recommended by your physician or a specialist. Two of the more common non-surgical treatments are MAD’s (mandibular advancement devices) and TRD’s (tongue-retaining devices). Here is a breakdown of these two devices:
- Mandibular advancement devices or MAD’s prevent snoring which is caused by vibrations at the base of a person’s tongue. These devices gently push the lower jaw and tongue forward to create a larger space for the flow of air in the pharynx and stop these vibrations.
- Tongue-retaining devices or TRD’ sare oral appliances that prevent your tongue from falling back towards the back of the throat and obstructing the airway. The device holds the tongue’s tip using a slight negative suction. It also has lateral openings that enable the person to breathe through their mouth if their nasal passages are blocked.
While these devices are considered some of the better anti-snoring remedies for tongue snoring, they can be uncomfortable to wear. Furthermore, patients often complain about excessive salivation, foreign body sensation, and mouth dryness. However, these oral appliances are considerably more acceptable compared to CPAP machines among individuals suffering with obstructive sleep apnea or OSA.
What to look for in Anti-snoring Remedies
When you start shopping for anti-snoring remedies that will alleviate your tongue snoring episodes, there are 8 factors to keep in mind, including the following:
- adjustability
- comfort
- cost
- durability
- ease of use
- effectiveness
- noise level reduction
- safety
Another factor to be concerned with is cleanliness and hygiene. Since this product is worn in your mouth, these are essential factors that must be considered. Be sure you look for anti-snoring remedies that are easy to keep clean and maintain. The better choices come with a protective case that prevents them from getting dirty and dusty.
As a third anti-snoring remedy, consider using Asonor Anti-snoring Spray Solution, a nasal spray that has been clinically tested and proven effective in 75% of the cases studied. Carefully formulated and safe, our product has been known to help you get peaceful sleep, a night with much reduced or no snores.
We’d be happy to help you stop snoring. So, call us today and let us help you.
Find out more about this amazing product by visiting our websiteor e-mailing your questions to [email protected]. Additionally, our business representatives are available to talk with you and answer any questions that you might have.