Snoring Mouthpiece vs. Chin Straps

The ZQuiet team knows that a better night’s sleep can come in many shapes and sizes. To help you find the best snoring treatment for you, we’re putting together the most accurate and up-to-date information about all of your treatment options.

When researching different snoring solutions, you will likely come across snoring mouthpieces and snoring chin straps. Snoring mouthpieces, sometimes called snoring mouth guards or oral appliances, are snoring aids placed in the user’s mouth to slightly adjust the jaw position. This helps open up your airway passage and reduce vibrations in the soft tissues of your throat. These vibrations are the most common cause of snoring sounds.

Snoring chin straps are exactly what they sound like: Fabric straps that wrap around your chin and head to hold your jaw in place. These work differently than snoring mouthpieces by keeping the mouth closed while you sleep, which reduces the movement of your tongue and the likelihood that your throat’s soft tissues will vibrate, causing you to snore.

Depending on your preferences and medical history, one solution might be more appropriate than another. Keep reading to learn more about snoring mouthpieces, chin straps, and their pros and cons to help you decide which solution will finally kick snoring out of bed.

How Can A Snoring Mouthpiece Provide Relief?

Snoring mouthpieces are generally considered the most common type of oral snoring solutions. These come in two different forms: mandibular advancement devices (MAD) and tongue stabilizing devices (TSD), which target different problem areas that contribute to snoring.

• MAD snoring mouthpieces, like ZQuiet, slightly reposition your lower jaw forward when you sleep to widen your airway. This reduces the vibrations of soft tissues in the back of your throat that normally result in the sound of snoring.
• TSD snoring mouthpieces treat snoring differently by preventing your tongue from sliding to the back of your throat when you sleep, which also contributes greatly to the sound of snoring. The most common TSD design is a tongue-retaining device that uses a hollow bulb to create suction and pull the tongue forward through the lips, keeping it from falling back toward the throat.

Benefits And Features Of Snoring Mouthpieces

No two snoring mouthpieces work exactly the same, so depending on your preferences, one mouthpiece might work better for you than another.

First, many mouthpieces require some preparation to custom-form to your mouth and dentition — sometimes requiring you boil, mold, or adjust them to fit your mouth. The hassle of preparing these mouthpieces often makes them more complex to prepare initially. Moldable mouthpieces are also inherently rigid and bulky because they require a hard outer shell to hold the moldable material. ZQuiet offers innovative solutions to eliminate these challenges:

• ZQuiet Comfort: This pre-set mouthpiece eliminates the need for boiling or molding by providing two levels of jaw advancement (2mm and 6mm). With its flexible yet durable design, it delivers immediate comfort and effectiveness for users looking for a quick solution to stop snoring.
• ZQuiet Advance: For those who prefer more customization, this mouthpiece features four adjustable settings and a patented hinge design. It allows precise jaw adjustments to widen the airway, supporting both straight and misaligned teeth. Its sleek, low-profile design eliminates the bulk common to other boil-and-bite mouthpieces.

                     

 

One of the main benefits of ZQuiet's patented living hinge design is the freedom it gives you to open and close your mouth, move your jaw more naturally, and breathe easily through both your mouth and nose. This flexibility sets ZQuiet apart from other mouthpieces, which often restrict jaw movement and force users to breathe exclusively through the nose.

Potential Challenges When Using A Snoring Mouthpiece

Although many snoring mouthpieces effectively treat snoring, they’re not intended for sleep apnea treatment or other breathing disorders. If you suffer from dental challenges such as dentures, oral prostheses, missing or loose teeth, or strong overbites, a snoring mouthpiece might not be the right fit for you.

Consult your dentist to decide whether your dentition can support a snoring mouthpiece and handle the device's pressure without issues.

For those without dental issues, ZQuiet's range of mouthpieces offers a convenient, comfortable, and effective solution to stop snoring.

What Is A Snoring Chin Strap?

How does a snoring chin strap work to reduce snoring? Snoring chin straps work somewhat similarly to tongue stabilizing devices in that they prevent your tongue from moving back toward your throat and creating vibrations. Chin straps also keep your mouth closed and your jaw positioned in place, minimizing the vibrations of air traveling past the soft tissues of your throat, which cause the irritating sound of snoring.

Benefits Of Using A Snoring Chin Strap

There are some key advantages to snoring chin straps:

• Minimal setup: Simply place the strap across your head.
• Denture-friendly: Chin straps can be used with dentures or other dental challenges.
• Affordable: Chin straps are often more cost-effective than other snoring aids.

Potential Drawbacks Of Snoring Chin Straps

Chin straps also present some challenges:

• Restricted breathing: They prevent mouth breathing, which can be problematic for those with nasal congestion or difficulty breathing through the nose.
• Discomfort: Some users find the feeling of a strap around their head and face uncomfortable or claustrophobic.
• Poor stability: Chin straps may shift during sleep, reducing their effectiveness.

Should You Use A Snoring Mouthpiece Or Chin Strap To Treat Your Snoring?

The decision to use a snoring mouthpiece or a chin strap comes down to your personal needs, medical history, and snoring habits.

• Chin straps: While affordable, easy to use, and denture-friendly, they may prove uncomfortable or impractical for mouth breathers.
• Snoring mouthpieces: These are effective, cost-efficient, and provide a long-term solution for snoring. For those without significant dental issues, snoring mouthpieces often offer the most comfort and effectiveness.

If you’re considering snoring mouthpieces, prioritize devices with innovative designs and user-friendly features, such as ZQuiet Comfort and ZQuiet Advance, to ensure a comfortable and effective fit.

Want to learn more about how ZQuiet delivers a better night’s sleep? See why it works here.