Sleep apnea is a serious condition where a person stops breathing intermittently during sleep, then starts again with a gasp. Since it happens during sleep, many people don’t know they have sleep apnea until a sleeping partner or roommate points it out. Sleep apnea goes beyond normal snoring to seriously affect breathing, and in severe cases it can be fatal. Fortunately there are a number of ways to address sleep apnea, from relatively inexpensive sleep aids to expensive machines and even surgery.
One of the less expensive ways to address sleep apnea is through the use of a sleep apnea chinstrap. The purpose of a sleep apnea chinstrap is to keep the wearer’s mouth shut, thereby preventing mouth breathing, which is a chief cause of loud snoring and may be a factor in sleep apnea.
Sometimes referred to as stop snoring chin straps, they fit over the head and under the chin and are put on at bedtime. The chin part of the sleep apnea chinstrap has a chin cup that is designed to help the wearer keep his or her mouth closed during sleep so that mouth breathing is not an option. These devices can generally also be adjusted to hold the jaw in certain positions, which further helps the breathing passages stay open during sleep. The properly aligned nasal air passages, coupled with altered jaw position combine to cut down on heavy snoring. In patients with mild or moderate symptoms of sleep apnea, sleep apnea chinstraps can be used to help prevent or reduce periods of apnea.
Sleep apnea chinstraps are inexpensive, starting at around $20. They are easy to use and can be purchased without a prescription. They’re made to be very easy to use and are available in a number of retail locations as well as through several firms on the internet. The better the fit of a sleep apnea chinstrap, the more comfortable it will be, and the better job it will do in curbing snoring and sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea chinstraps are not for everyone, however. Though they’re in fairly common use because of the widespread problem of snoring, and because they are relatively inexpensive and can be obtained without a prescription, they don’t work for every form of sleep apnea. Sleep apnea chinstraps are generally better for those with milder sleep apnea or plain snoring, but for those who have severe sleep apnea, it may not be enough. With severe sleep apnea, a chinstrap may be used in addition to other forms of therapy, including the continuous positive air pressure (CPAP) machines.
Anyone who believes they may have sleep apnea should discuss the possibility with their physician. There are dentists who specialize in sleep apnea treatment, too, though they tend to offer therapies such as acrylic mouthpieces to address snoring and sleep apnea. Your sleep apnea physician or dentist will be able to offer advice about whether a sleep apnea chinstrap might be helpful to you, and if so, which brands people prefer and why.
For those for whom sleep apnea chinstraps aren’t helpful, other solutions include the CPAP machines, which have optional “full face” masks that help keep the jaws shut and the mouth closed while maintaining an open air channel for breathing. One problem that some users have with chinstraps is that though the jaw stays shut, the lips don’t always stay shut, and air escapes through the lips and teeth.
Some people use sleep apnea chinstraps with their CPAP machines, and anyone wanting to do this should find out from their doctor or medical equipment dealer the best way to do this so as not to interfere with the CPAP machine doing its job. New users of CPAP machines must go through an adjustment period where they become used to sleeping with the mask on their face. It is advised that new CPAP users learn to sleep using the machine before adding the extra factor of a sleep apnea chinstrap.
Peopl e who use CPAP machines must learn the best pressure to set the machine at. Their physician or medical equipment specialist will know how to set the machine optimally for the patient’s particular diagnosis and facial features. Once a sleep apnea patient learns to use his or her CPAP machine properly, a sleep apnea chinstrap may or may not help. Some people find that once they learn to sleep using the CPAP machine, they don’t need a chin strap. This may depend on the type of mask the CPAP machine has. Some have partial facial masks, and some have full facial masks. Some users of CPAP machines say that saline nasal gel helps them to get used to the machine and tolerating it well.
Potential problems with sleep apnea chinstraps include bumps and areas of irritation where the strap touches the face and head. Some chinstraps are elastic, and others are made of Neoprene or similar fabrics and adjust with Velcro. It is mostly a matter o f preference which one to choose. Both types have supporters and detractors, so sleep apnea patients may have to go through some trial and error to find the right sleep apnea chinstrap.
There are some patients who end up making their own sleep apnea chinstrap out of stretchy nylon and other materials found around the home. The DIY approach to sleep apnea chinstraps seems to work best for those who need more of a subtle “reminder” to keep their mouth shut while sleeping rather than actual physical holding of the mouth shut. Sleep apnea patients who have problems with their temperomandibular joint (known as TMJ disorder) should definitely consult with their dentist or TMJ specialist before using a sleep apnea chinstrap with or without a CPAP machine. Some people are able to train themselves to sleep with their mouth closed without the use of a sleep apnea chinstrap.
Two popular brands of sleep apnea chinstraps are the Respironics Premium Chinstrap and the SP Medical Puritan Bennett Style CPAP Chin Strap.
The Respironics Premium Chinstrap is made with a vertical design that uses vertical force on the chin as opposed to horizontal force to hold the lower jaw in place. It has a chin cup that is integrated into the strap so that the user has a soft support for his or her chin without adding extra tension around the chin. It comes with an adjustable support strap attached to a section of the strap that is divided, and which wraps around the back of the user’s head for excellent stability and best possible fit. These retail for US$15 to $20.
The SP Medical Puritan Bennett Style CPAP Chin Strap is made to work with CPAP machines to help them breathe through their nose while asleep. It helps prevent the annoying oral and nasal drying that can occur with CPAP therapy. Many CPAP users recommend saline nasal spray or saline nasal gel to help combat these problems too. This sleep apnea chinstrap holds the chin in a stable position while the patient is wearing the CPAP mask, encouraging nasal rather than mouth breathing.
Treatments for sleep apnea include sleep apnea chinstraps (otherwise known as stop snoring chin straps) that may be designed for use with or without a CPAP machine. Some people with sleep apnea are able to treat it successfully without a CPAP machine, or with an alternative such as a customized dental mouthpiece made by a dentist specializing in treating sleep apnea. The sleep apnea chinstraps receive mixed reviews, much of which can be chalked up to anatomical differences. Smaller men and women with sleep apnea who want a chinstrap should look for one that is specifically sized for people with smaller heads. Unfortunately, because of hygiene issues, sleep apnea chinstraps are generally non-returnable. However, the investment is usually in the $20 range, which is far less than the cost of a CPAP machine.
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