63 The High Street 
What causes snoring?
When the throat muscles relax in sleep, they are less effective in holding your breathing passages open. The soft sides of the airway tend to close in, and the air has to move faster through a smaller space.
This causes vibrations of the soft tissues which generate the noise of snoring. It has also been shown that excess body weight, heavy alcohol consumption and other sedatives or sleeping on your back can increase the severity of snoring.
Every person that suffers from sleep apnoea snores, but not everyone who snores suffers from sleep apnoea.
If you have been heard to gasp for breath or have sudden spells of drowsiness during the day then you should ask your doctor to refer you to a sleep disorder clinic for further investigation.
How does the Silensor system work?
The Silensor uses a pair of clear plastic moulding, shaped to fit you teeth, which you slip into your mouth at bedtime. The top and bottom sections are connected at the sides by short plastic links, which have the effect of pulling your lower jaw slightly forward. This in turn holds the airways open, reducing the constriction that causes the snoring.
What if I wear false teeth?
Unfortunately, if you have no teeth the Silensor cannot be fitted. If you have a denture which only replaces some teeth, a Silensor may work: ask your dentist for advice.
