"Daddy Dummy" to Help Stop Snoring

stuff.co.nz reports on a new snoring cure invented by New Zealand orthodontist Chris Robertson.

Robertson - who has a doctorate in dental science - has created a device called the aveoTSD. This has become known informally as the "daddy dummy".

The aveoTSD sits in the mouth and holds the tongue in place, preventing it from blocking the airways. The first version was trialled around five years ago. The device now has FDA approval in the US and is about to become widely available in New Zealand through GPs.

The "one size fits all" aveoTSD snoring cure will be manufactured by Elastomer Products Ltd and distributed by Ebos.

Study Identifies Reasons for Snoring

New research published in CHEST (the journal of the American College of Chest Physicians) has identified some physiological factors behind snoring.

The research was carried out in Slovenia and involved 40 patients. The results suggest that factors such as weight and lifestyle do have an effect - for example, body mass index was higher amongst snorers. However for some people their snoring is simply a result of their physiology.

The research findings suggest that the major reason for snoring is a soft palate. The palates of snorers were larger than those of non-snorers. In addition, there was a direct correlation between volume of snoring and inspiratory pharyngeal narrowing.