Mouth and tongue exercises using myofunctional therapy techniques have been shown to improve snoring and obstructive sleep apnea in about 40-50% of patients. It helps by increasing the overall muscle tone of the tongue and mouth thereby minimizing vibration and collapse from muscle flaccidity. In a recent meta-analysis, these exercises have been shown to decrease snoring intensity by 51% and decrease time spent snoring by 31%.
Easily performed at home, there are 6 basic exercises to do. Each exercise should be performed for 5 seconds and repeated a total of 3 or more times. Each set should be performed 2 or more times a day. If properly performed, you should feel tongue and throat muscle strain and fatigue.
Exercise #1: Stick Tongue Out (0:42)
Exercise #2: Suction the Tongue to Roof of Mouth (1:18)
Exercise #3: Push Tongue to Sides (1:45)
Exercise #4: Drop Tongue Down into Throat (2:01)
Exercise #5: While Pushing Tongue Against Teeth, Swallow (2:10)
Exercise #6: Vowel Exercises (2:21)
Didgeridoo (2:42)
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References:
Oropharyngeal and tongue exercises (myofunctional therapy) for snoring: a systematic review and meta-analysis. European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology volume 275, pages 849–855 (2018).
Effects of oropharyngeal exercises on snoring: a randomized trial. Chest. 2015. doi:10.1378/chest.14-2953
Effects of oropharyngeal exercises on patients with moderate obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2009 May 15;179(10):962-6. doi: 10.1164/rccm.200806-981OC. Epub 2009 Feb 20.
Didgeridoo playing as alternative treatment for obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome: randomised controlled trial. BMJ 2006 Feb 4;332(7536):266-70.
Risk of obstructive sleep apnea lower in double reed wind musicians. J Clin Sleep Med. 2012 Jun 15;8(3):251-5. doi: 10.5664/jcsm.1906.
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