No doubt you know about the undesirable results of second-hand smoke, but have you seen the news about how damaging second-hand snoring can be to you? Studies have shown that bedmates of people who snore can be deprived of just as much sleep as the snorer. When you consider that snorers may top out at nearly 80 decibels, a bed partner’s nightly blasts are more intrusive than trying to get a good night’s sleep while strapped to a hand-held vacuum cleaner.

According to recent research by the Mayo Clinic and Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, those who are unlucky enough to have a snorer in their bed have more pain, complain of increased fatigue, are more apt to fall asleep while driving, and could wind up losing some of their hearing in certain frequency ranges. One alarming Mayo Clinic study showed that spouses of chronic snorers were pulled out of their sleep an average of 21 times an hour, nearly as often as the 27 times an hour the snoring person partially woke up.

What works on most people’s snoring problem is a specially fashioned piece of plastic worn in the mouth every night by the snorer and available from a dentist, like Dr. Busch or Dr. VanYperen, specifically trained in treating sleep disordered breathing. The custom-fitted plastic piece moves the lower jaw into a more forward position, preventing the airway from closing and ending the resultant vibration of the soft tissues. Try this out on yourself right now. Simply lie back, move your lower jaw forward, relax and try to get your throat to make snoring sounds. It’s nearly impossible.

If you have a chronic snorer in your life and in your bed, suggest a visit to a qualified dentist, like Dr. Busch or Dr. VanYperen. There’s a good chance that soon, the two of you will finally be more alert and healthier.