While trolling through the internet the other night I discovered many websites, forums and user groups that discuss the ongoing battles that patients seem to have with the CPAP machines they use to treat their obstructive sleep apnea.  I notice that the traffic on these sites seems to spike in the middle of the night – when everyone should be sleeping.  The folks posting on these sites complain of dry mouth and headaches and coughs and sinus problems and a myriad of other problems associated with using their CPAP.

One posting caught my eye simply because the idea expressed was extremely dangerous.  One individual was searching for an option other than CPAP and wondered about oral appliance therapy.  Another member of the forum suggested the “cheap route” of purchasing a $1 boil and bite football mouthguard instead of being fit for an actual oral appliance.  Fortunately another member of the group immediately posted the facts – that an over-the-counter mouth guard is only designed to protect the teeth during sports.   An oral appliance designed to treat obstructive sleep apnea is designed to move the jaw forward and, in doing so, keeps the tongue and soft tissues of the mouth from blocking the airway during sleep.  Oral appliance therapy is usually covered by medical insurance or Medicare (for those over 65) just like CPAP treatment.

Obstructive sleep apnea is an extremely dangerous disease and can be life threatening – don’t attempt to self-treat using products purchased over the internet or using advice from chat rooms.  Here at StoneRidge Dental we work as a team with your sleep physician.  Please contact my Gahanna, Ohio office today at 614-476-6696 to schedule a consultation – discover whether oral appliance therapy may be the perfect alternative to treat your obstructive sleep apnea.