Thinking About Trying a Puresleep Mouth Device for Your Snoring? Think Again!
You may be desperately searching for a snoring solution. Media advertised stop snoring mouth devices such as Puresleep and many other similar retainers may seem like the answer to your prayers. But, here are some important facts to be aware of that may not only save dental funds, on a greater scale may add years to your life!
- If you are snoring often, you should have your snoring evaluated by a professional knowledgeable in sleep medicine.
- If your medical provider says, “everyone snores” and doesn’t see the importance of an evaluation, consider finding someone trained through the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM).
- People who snore regularly often have a serious sleep condition called obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
- Devices purchased though mail order media sites can put people at risk by ‘hiding’ apnea while reducing snoring levels. Dangerous oxygen dips during sleep may still be occurring.
- Many of these ‘mail ordered’ devices can create quite serious side effects like dislodgements of dental work, loosening of teeth, and teeth shifting to the point of even lisping.
Several months ago, I examined a new patient that had been using a Puresleep mouth device. The patient was suffering from mild obstructive sleep apnea and was originally recommended the CPAP device. Since his diagnosis was mild OSA, he decided to get a Puresleep mouth device as a short-term option. The device worked with marginal results, and eventually the patient found us to see if further similar treatment could improve results.
Upon examination and discussion with this new patient, the patient found some concern. He now noticed himself lisping during speech. At times, this side effect can be corrected with stopping using the device, other times braces (orthodontics) may be needed to get the bite back to normal, often a costly expense.
Next time, when searching for a snoring cure, consider seeking help from a trained dentist in dental sleep medicine. These dentists work with professional devices that are custom made. A trained dental professional can help prevent or manage potential side affects that can occur with professional oral appliance therapy. For snoring in the absence of apnea, these devices are extremely effective. For those snoring with apnea, they work in the majority of cases.
For more information on the dangers of mail order anti-snoring devices, see my interview with sleep expert Dr. Gail Demko. www.tiredofsnoring.com/2012/05/the-dangers-of-over-the-counter-anti-snoring-devices/
Dental Sleep and TMD Center of Illinois, a premiere snoring and apnea treatment center in Naperville, has been providing the CPAP alternative treatment of oral appliance therapy for over 15 years successfully. We are extremely passionate in helping individuals that have been struggling with CPAP therapy in Naperville, Wheaton, Aurora, Bolingbrook and surrounding Chicago suburbs. For more information on this physician recommended treatment option, visit www.TiredOfSnoring.com or call us at (630)369-5508.
>>To receive notice of when we add blog posts please subscribe by RSS feed or enter your email address to the left and receive notice in your inbox.<<
Great, so if you can’t afford to go to the doctor and get a sleep test, you’re supposed to what? Do nothing. Isn’t that even worse?
Comment by Bob — February 28, 2013 @ 8:27 pmThat’s a great question! Personally, I would rather someone do something other than nothing if they chronically snore. Some suggestions might be talking to your physician and explaining that you are not in a financial positon to have a sleep test and what other options exist. There are other ‘home sleep screening devices’ that may make it more affordable for you. Alhtough not as accurate, it may give a ‘good hint’ as to the severity of oxygen dips, etc.
Depending on the results or discussion with the physician, you may discuss that you want to try a mouth device knowing that the results will not be fully known. Offer to sign something that puts the risk on you. He may than write you a prescription to have “oral appliance therapy” to a trained dentist in oral appliance therapy. Try the AADSM (American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine). If you can not find one in your area, ask a general dentist if he would be willing to look into screening and monitoring your bite and oral condition prior to having anything made , and periodically afterwards (with your physician’s prescription). There are over 80 “mouth devices” on the market. He or she may be able to offer you one of the less expensive devices or even monitor you with the internet sold devices. In our office we offer to do that and make a morning inexpensive retainer to help potential mouth side effects.
Other things to ask or consider, if the snoring is mostly on your back, discuss using a positional device, even homemade, that you wear during sleep to keep you off your back. Many people have severe apnea on their back and only mild apnea on their side. This could help.
And yet another option for those who are overweight is to discuss weight loss options with your physician. In many cases this may help reduce the severity of apnea if present. In others who snore or who have apnea and are not overweight, this is usually an “throat and jaw architecture problem’ and further weight loss typically would not help.
The most important thing is to keep your physician in the loop. Unfortunately, most physicians have very limited knowledge of oral appliances therapy. A good resource for them would be the website of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (Link http://www.aasmnet.org/practiceparameters.aspx?cid=102) , more specifically the most current standards for oral appliance therapy published 2/2006. Hope this helps!
Comment by Lydia Sosenko DDS — March 4, 2013 @ 3:09 am