Choosing a snore guard can be a highly personal and difficult decision. After all, snore guards all look the same and they stay in your mouth for 8 hours every day for a few years. However, it is difficult to write an article that can help you choose wisely without touching all the points in depth. This is because I have no clue what your needs are and how big are your budget. (Of course, there is a lot of other factors to consider too. Who would have thought it would be this complicated right, ?) In this article I’m going to be touching on a few points. I’ll be talking about budgets, types of snore guards for specific needs, and where you should order you snore guard (not on the Internet). This article will focus on the application of snore guard for snoring problems and mild apnea problem. This is not about TMJ and severe OSA (Obstructive Sleep Apnea) problem.
With that cleared up, let’s move on to the first topic. The types of snore guards that are available and the problem it solves. There are three types of snore guards available on the market. They are fixed jaw relation snore guard, semi adjustable snore guards, and fully adjustable snore guards. I will be talking about fixed jaw relation snore guards and not semi adjustable and fully adjustable snore guards. Why? Like I said in the introduction, I will be focusing on snoring and mild sleep apnea problem. The semi-adjustable and fully adjustable snore guards adjustable feature is there mainly for those with TMJ problem. They will adjust the lower jaw to protrude further once their lower jaw muscle relaxes. However, this does not mean much for snoring and apnea problem. Some fixed jaw relation snore guards can also withstand the force of bruxism too.
In the fixed jaw relation snore guard category there are two types of snore guard. One is called prefabricated snore guard and another one is called Elastomeric snore guard. The difference between the two is mostly price, comfort and resiliency of the snore guards. If you are low on the budget, I would suggest that you go for the prefabricated snore guards. The prefabricated snore guards does not even require you to go to a dentist. It is called a boil and bite device by some people because of how it works. You just need to boil the appliance for a few minute (different snore guard comes with different instructions) and then let it cool down for a while before you bite it. Because it is still soft, you will leave a set of teeth impressions and your snore guard is now custom fitted. Remember, you need to protrude your lower jaw forward a little bit before you bite. This has something to do with how a snore guard stops your snoring.
The problem with prefabricated snore guards is its lack of resiliency and comfort. Because the fitting is not done with a dentist and moulded in a lab by professionals, it is often uncomfortable. If you have bruxism, you will destroy a prefabricated snore guard fast because it is not made from the finest material. This is because you will need to custom fit the device using just boiling water and for the most part it is a DIY operation. If you are low on budget and want to test out a snore guard, then I would recommend that you get a prefabricated snore guard. If you want something better, and have the money to spend…please continue reading.
Elastomeric snore guards are the next fixed jaw relation snore guard. They are more expensive than prefabricate device because they require you to go to the dentist or any sleep specialist. This is to get your upper teeth and lower teeth impression down on a slab of wax. The slab of wax is then sent to the lab. If you are a bruxer, the Elastomeric snore guard will be worth every penny because they are virtually indestructible even by the worst bruxers. Even if you are not a bruxer, it is still worth the money because of comfort and long life span of this device. If you are planning to use it for long term, it is worth it. Another extremely critical point is that an Elastomeric snore guard will keep your teeth from shifting all over the place and cause problem. This is because the Elastomeric device is strong and springlike in its ability to hold and pull back your teeth and jaw in its proper position.
To conclude, Elastomeric snore guards are better if you have the budget because of its comfort and durability. This is why I recommend that you get all your snore guards from the dentist or your sleep specialist. Chances are they are using Elastomeric snore guards and not prefabricated ones. Prefabricated snore guards can be used only for experimentation and if you are low on budget and not a bruxers. You can get a prefabricated snore guards in almost every health store or the Internet.
