Do women really snore?
“Women don’t snore!”
Throughout the years, this common belief has been accepted as factual information by most people. If you live with a female partner who keeps you awake throughout the night, you already know that nothing could be further from the truth. Perhaps you are the guilty party and have come here to find more information and a solution. Either way, we are here to set the record straight and offer some practical solutions for women who deal with a snoring problem.
It’s a fact. According to the National Sleep Foundation, snoring is an issue that affects both men and women. However, at a younger age, most experts agree that men are twice as likely to snore in comparison to women. After menopause, the number of women snorers eventually becomes equivalent to the number of men who snore.
Certain factors such as being overweight, alcohol or drug use, and sleeping position can all influence whether or not we snore. There are a number of other issues that can be a contributing factor to snoring such as the anatomy of the jaw and airway and nasal or sinus issues. In some cases, snoring may be a sign of a more serious issue such as sleep apnea. For these reasons, it’s a good idea to check with your physician before attempting to treat a snoring problem.
Snoring mouthpieces for women
There are several natural remedies that may help with a snoring problem. Here are a few ideas that you may want to consider before moving forward with other solutions. For example, if you are overweight, losing as little as 10lbs might be all that it takes to eliminate your snoring.
After exploring these suggestions, you may be interested in testing a mouthpiece before moving forward with a more aggressive approach such as surgery. A mandibular advancement device, better known as a snoring mouthpiece, is a practical and inexpensive solution that can be used to prevent snoring.
There are two types of products available. The first type is a dentist fitted custom device. There are various brands including the Tap 3, Somnowell, Somnodent, Herbst, Narval CC, Silent Nite SL as well as several others. While these are an ideal snoring solution, they are only available through your dentist and often cost several thousands of dollars. Depending on medical insurance coverage, most people are left paying several hundred dollars out of pocket.
A less expensive and readily available solution that has become quite popular in recent years is the DYI mouthpiece. These are often made from a thermoplastic material and are custom fitted at home using a pot of boiled water. There are dozens of manufacturers who produce these devices including names such as zQuiet, GMSS, Vitalsleep, SnoreDoc, SleepTight, Zyppah, as well as several others. On average, these products range in price from around $60 to $100 and are typically only available for purchase online.
Are these DIY products really gender specific?
One question that snorers often ask is whether or not DYI devices are gender specific. In general, with a bit of heating and modification, most products will accommodate a wide range of mouth sizes and shapes for both men and women.
There are of course some exceptions. Women usually have a mouth structure that is smaller in comparison to that of men’s. If you are a woman and your mouth is substantially smaller in size, you may want to consider going with a product that is labeled as “small” or “for women”. Unfortunately at the time of this writing, there are very few manufacturers who offer this option.
While there are literally dozens of products available, I’ve only found three that will assist women snorers with smaller mouths – The GMSS, VitalSleep, and Snoremeds. All three are effective and can be purchased online without having to visit a dentist.
Three largely different solutions
GMSS– If you are a woman snorer with a small mouth, you might want to consider a less traditional product to treat your snoring. The GMSS will accommodate nearly every mouth size because it’s worn on the tip of the tongue instead of between the teeth. This product, created by a Canadian dentist, holds the tongue forward which prevents the sound of snoring. It costs around $100 and is quite effective. You can read my review here.
Vitalsleep– The VitalSleep is available in both regular and small sizes. It has micro adjustment screws on which allows the lower tray to be adjusted out several millimeters. The VitalSleep sells for around $60 and can be purchased at a discount if you order two. I tested this product and wrote a complete review.
SnoreMeds– Last on the list is the SnoreMeds. This product is a boil and bite mouthpiece with two breather holes. It’s also available in both regular and small sizes and is as simple and effective as they come. This is perhaps my most favored no-frills product because it’s very inexpensive. The value pack which contains 4 devices can be purchased for around $70 or about $18 each. Read the full review here.
Other available options
It’s important to mention that while these three products are marketed and sold as “women’s” mouthpieces, this can be somewhat misleading. For the average woman, most standard or regular size mouthguards will work just fine. The smaller size should only be used if you are finding that standard size devices do not fit properly or are uncomfortable.
A much larger selection of reviewed products is available here. Pay close attention whether or not the company offers a money back guarantee. In the event that they do not fit, you can return it for a refund and purchase one of the smaller devices mentioned above.
There are a lot of great options when it comes to DIY anti-snoring products. For most, just about any standard size device will work. For others, the smaller mentioned devices may be ideal.
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