Why Sleep Apnea Mouthpiece Is Better Than CPAP Machine

Snoring is a problem to take seriously. It can affect the health and well-being of everyone in the home. One solution to snoring is a continuous positive airway pressure machine (CPAP), but these devices are bulky, expensive, and uncomfortable for many people. Reducing snoring or sleep apnea symptoms with a sleep apnea mouthpiece is the effective and inexpensive alternative working for many people.

Why Snoring Matters

Snoring is painful for everyone involved. Both those who must sleep near a snorer and the snorer often have disturbed sleep and even worse health consequences.

Some snoring is more dangerous than other snoring, especially snoring connected to sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a condition in which airways become obstructed to the point of limiting oxygen to the body. A person with sleep apnea often wakes up many times a night as they struggle to regain enough oxygen.

Snoring occurs when airways in the mouth, nose, and throat become blocked, reducing the flow of air through the breathing passageways. When a person is sleeping, these tissues become relaxed and prone to vibrating as air flows by, leading to disturbing gasping and rattling sounds.

Besides disrupting the sleep of the snoring person, others in the home also often lose sleep and quality of life when living with a person who snores. But snoring can also affect health in other ways including,

• An increased risk of heart attack and stroke,
• Increased risk of high blood pressure and hypertension,
• Mood swings, weight gain, headaches, and tiredness during the day.

Sleep apnea occurs in about half of all people who snore. Women are often underdiagnosed for this condition and often have slightly different symptoms than men. It is important to talk to your doctor if you think you have sleep apnea, because it can worsen over time leading to increasing health risks.

Main Types of Sleep Apnea Mouthpieces

All of the best-rated sleep apnea mouthpieces are of three main types. Each type works in a slightly different way and is designed to help with a specific type of snoring problem. Each device also works differently for each individual person.

Some devices have adjustments which give you even more control over how the mouthpiece works. Products with money-back guarantees let you return the product if it is not a good fit for your mouth and jaw. This is important, because you may need to try several products before you find the right one for you.

These are the three main types of sleep apnea devices:

• The Mandibular Repositioning Device (MAD). A MAD device works by pushing the jaw forward to keep airways open. This type of device also helps with teeth grinding, because it keeps a space between the upper and lower jaw. MAD devices are custom fitted to each individual by softening the material in hot water and then biting into it.
• Tongue Stabilizing Devices (TSD) are designed to affect only the tongue by preventing it from falling back into the mouth. Use of a TSD requires breathing through the nose, which can take a while to get used to. It can also be difficult to use this kind of device if you have a cold or stuffy nose.
• Nasal Expiratory Positive Airway Pressure (Nasal EPAP) devices are a kind of tape which is placed over the nose. They control air by placing pressure on nasal passageways and preventing reverberation as you exhale. While they are the simplest and easiest to use, these anti-snoring devices can cost more over time, because each tape is only used once, then discarded. At the cost of about one dollar each, this can quickly add up to more money than investment in a MAD or TSD type sleep apnea mouthpiece.

How a Sleep Apnea Mouthpiece Works

A sleep apnea mouthpiece is a simple device that fits inside the mouth maintaining the position of the jaw, keeping airways open while you sleep. Some mouthpieces also depress the tongue, so it does not fall back in the throat and contact the soft palate.

While the concept is simple, there are dozens of different designs and models of sleep apnea mouthpieces. It is important to find one that is the most comfortable and effective for you, and many people need to try several types before finding the perfect fit.

While a sleep apnea mouthpiece is effective for controlling snoring, it may not completely eliminate the problem. For some people, adjusting sleep position is also necessary. Sleeping on one side of the body or stomach down is also helpful for controlling snoring.

Losing weight, eating a healthy diet, and avoiding alcohol are also important lifestyle habits that affect snoring. Making changes in these other areas of life can help reduce snoring and have positive health effects in many other ways.
When using a sleep apnea mouthpiece, it is important to give yourself time to get used to the feeling of the device. A dentist can help you find a sleep apnea mouthpiece that is the best fit for you.

Comparing Sleep Apnea Mouthpieces

There are many sleep apnea mouthpieces available, and there is one which will work for just about everyone. This snoring mouth guard comparison table shows many different models ranging in price from around $50 to $150 dollars.  Popular devices include the SnoreRx and Zyppah.

Some of the differences between models, besides price, include the material the device is made from. Some materials are softer and more pliable and others are more firm. Available materials include,

• silicon,
• latex,
• thermoplastic,
• copolymer and BPA-free materials.

Products also vary on FDA approval, how long the mouthpiece will last, and whether you can wear dentures while using the device. By clicking on the product name in the comparison chart, you can read a detailed review of each product comparing,

• effectiveness,
• comfort,
• ease of cleaning,
• company rating,
• durability.

Before investing in a CPAP machine or a surgical operation for snoring, find out if a sleep apnea mouthpiece can solve this problem for you for less cost and with less potential side-effects.