Reprinted and translated with the permission of the editor Leone S.p.A . Copyright 1997 All rights reserved. Night-time wear of these appliances can prevent snoring by repositioning the mandible and the tongue anteriorly. Snoring is one of the most common and unpleasant involuntary behaviors. It can contribute to family disagreements and irritability.
Physicians usually suggest weight loss, sleeping on one's side, or simply tolerating the situation.
Everyone is aware of how unpleasant snoring can be, but few know that it can seriously affect one's performance during the day. One must understand the mechanism of breathing during the night in order to clarify what can be done to prevent obstructive apnea. Snoring is the result of airway constriction. Following the Bernoulli rule, the speed of a fluid through a pipe is inversely proportional to the circumference of the pipe. This accelerated air causes the pharyngeal tissues, especially the soft palate and the uvula to vibrate like a contra-bassoon pipe.