Snoring can wear on more than your sleep. It can affect energy during the day and the quality of rest your partner gets. If nasal strips and pillows haven’t helped, a custom snore guard from your dentist is worth a look.
Custom snore guards are oral appliances for snoring that your dentist makes from impressions of your teeth. They work by gently holding the lower jaw forward to keep the airway open during sleep.
How Custom Snore Guards Work
A custom snore guard is a custom-made mouthpiece. To have it made, your dentist takes impressions or digital scans of your teeth and bite, which are sent to a dental lab to craft an appliance that’s precisely fitted to your teeth. Worn at night, it slides the lower jaw slightly forward. This serves to open the airway behind the tongue and allow greater airflow. As a result, the tissues vibrate less, meaning less snoring.
Who May Benefit From a Custom Snoring Mouthpiece
A custom snoring mouthpiece may help people who snore regularly and want a professional alternative to store-bought devices, as well as patients with mild to moderate sleep apnea who cannot tolerate a CPAP machine. However, as loud snoring can signal sleep apnea, a dentist will evaluate your symptoms first, at which point a physician’s diagnosis may also be needed.
Custom vs. Over-the-Counter Snoring Mouthguards
Over-the-counter snoring mouthguards are usually boil-and-bite devices that you shape yourself at home. They are less expensive, but the fit can be bulky, loose, or uncomfortable. This poor fit may irritate your jaw or teeth. A custom-fitted appliance is shaped specially to your mouth, can be adjusted over time, and is monitored by your dentist. This tends to ensure long-term comfort and a greater incentive for consistent everyday wear. The best way to know which is right for you is a professional exam and consultation.
Comfortable Custom Snore Guards in Wilmington, MA
If you’re in Wilmington and want to learn more about finding snoring relief with custom snore guards, contact Dr. Jaeseop Lee and the experienced Smile Life Dental team to schedule an exam and consultation.