Washington, Sept 18: A new study has revealed that use of a dental splint is more effective in alleviating snoring than breathing mask.

According to the study, 45 percent of adults snore at least occasionally and 25 percent are habitual snorers.

Snoring can lead to sleep deprivation for the snorer and result in daytime drowsiness, irritability, lack of focus, and decreased libido. Treatment options can include lifestyle changes (weight loss), use of specialized devices, and surgery

Twenty snorers participated in this prospective randomized crossover trial. Each snorer received three months of treatment with a dental splint and three months of treatment with a nasal breathing mask.

The Snoring Outcomes Survey (SOS) questionnaire was completed before and after each treatment. On trial completion, patients were asked to state a treatment preference for long-term therapy.

Preference options were the splint, the nasal breathing mask, or neither treatment. Patients opting for the dental splint reported a greater improvement in snoring severity than those opting for the breathing mask.

Results suggest that certain disruptive snoring can be managed successfully with conservative treatments and therefore avoid surgery. (With Inputs from ANI)