What Treatments work for Snoring?

If you've searched for snoring treatments recently, you'll know there is no shortage of options being marketed to sufferers, particularly on social media. Nasal strips, mouth tape, throat sprays, anti-snoring pillows, positional devices, and countless over-the-counter gadgets all promise relief. The reason there are so many is actually telling: snoring has multiple causes, and everyone's anatomy is different. What works well for one person may do very little for another.

The most important first step - before spending money on any product - is understanding what is causing your snoring in the first place.

Lifestyle-Based Treatments

For a meaningful proportion of snorers, targeted lifestyle changes can produce significant results. Excess body weight, especially round the neck and throat, narrows the airway during sleep. Even modest weight reduction can reduce snoring severity. Alcohol can make snoring worse as it relaxes the throat muscles and worsens airway collapse. Limiting or eliminating alcohol before bed is one of the most immediately impactful changes a snorer can make. Smoking causes airway inflammation and swelling that worsens both snoring and sleep apnoea while sleeping on the back allows the tongue and soft tissues to fall toward the throat. Side sleeping can reduce snoring significantly for positionally dependent snorers.

Managing Nasal Congestion and Allergies

For snorers whose airway obstruction begins at the nose, whether from allergies, chronic sinusitis, or a deviated septum, addressing nasal patency can meaningfully reduce mouth breathing and its associated snoring. Saline nasal rinses, nasal corticosteroid sprays such as with products like Nasonex or Dymista for allergic rhinitis, and treatment of underlying sinus conditions are all worthwhile first steps in this group.

Mandibular Advancement Splints

A mandibular advancement splint, also known as a MAS, mandibular advancement device, anti-snoring mouthguard, sleep apnoea oral appliance, or sleep mouthguard, is one of the most consistently effective and well-evidenced treatments available for snoring and mild to moderate sleep apnoea. It works by holding the lower jaw gently forward during sleep, which opens the airway at the back of the throat, prevents tissue vibration, and reduces or stops snoring. Custom-fitted dental devices made by a qualified sleep medicine dentist significantly outperform over-the-counter alternatives in both effectiveness and comfort, and are endorsed by the Australian Dental Association and the Australasian Sleep Association as a recommended treatment for snoring. While MAS therapy is effective sleep apnoea treatment, snorers find that their snoring can be reduced significantly to the point where snoring is cured and no longer a problem for them at that time.

CPAP Therapy

Where snoring is associated with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnoea, CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) therapy may be recommended. CPAP delivers pressurised air through a mask to keep the airway mechanically open throughout the night. It is highly effective when used consistently, though compliance can be a challenge for some patients. For these patients, a mandibular advancement splint appliance is a viable and clinically endorsed alternative.

Surgical Options

In selected cases, particularly where structural factors such as enlarged tonsils or a significantly deviated septum are the primary driver, surgical intervention may be considered. Surgeries can also include a total or modified Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) which is typically assessed and managed by an ENT surgeon following a comprehensive sleep assessment. Maxillary and mandibular advancement surgery (MMA), managed by an oral maxillofacial surgeon, is also another surgical option that aims to move both the upper and lower jaws forward to open up the airways. Hypoglossal stimulation is a newer surgical treatment which involves implanting an electrical nerve stimulator under the tongue to prevent it from relaxing and falling back into the airway.

Where to Start

The right treatment depends on the right diagnosis. If you snore regularly, the most important first step is establishing whether obstructive sleep apnoea is present because that changes the treatment picture significantly. A free online sleep apnoea test is a simple, no-commitment starting point.

Call SleepWise Clinic on 1300 101 505 to find out which snoring treatment is right for you.