What is a  Sleep Apnea Chin Strap and how does it work? When diagnosed with a sleep disorder like sleep apnea, many treatment options such as exercise, surgery and sleep apnea devices are considered by doctors, depending on the severity of the problem. Another approach and option considered by physicians is CPAP also known as continuous positive airway pressure. This is a device that is used to create a pressurized air stream in the airway or respiratory passages.  As a result, CPAP helps in stabilizing a patent airway even when the person is deeply asleep thus preventing the airway collapse that leads to incidences of OSA or obstructive sleep apnea. Along with these options, a device such as sleep apnea chin strap can be used to effectively treat many cases of sleep apnea.

First, a few key points about sleep apnea. The most common type of sleep apnea is called obstructive sleep apnea or OSA. It occurs when tissue in the nasal passages and/or throat collapses and constricts normal airflow. This constriction blocks the flow of air causing the apnea or loss of air incident. All obstructive sleep apnea treatment options utilize one strategy or another to keep the airways open and prevent the constriction found in OSA. So, whether it’s exercise to firm up the tissue in the throat or sleep apnea surgery to remove excess tissue or CPAP to  prevent airway closure or oral appliances to realign the jaw or sleep apnea chin straps to force nasal breathing, all have one goal in common. Namely, to prevent the constriction of the airway which leads to OSA and the subsequent side effects of sleep apnea.

How Does a Sleep Apnea Chin Strap Work

Typically, in cases of OSA, the sufferer breathes though his/her mouth and not their nose when sleeping. The reasons may be related to nasal constriction issues such as a deviated septum or other causes such as obesity that can lead to the accumulation of excess fat and tissue in the neck and nasal passages. The use of a sleep apnea chin strap is designed to help keep the mouth closed during sleep, thereby promoting breathing through the nose. This approach is one of the oldest approaches of its kind but is still considered as one of the most efficient and reliable. The client chooses from a variety of chin straps which will prevent the mouth from opening when he/she is asleep.  You will know when your sleep apnea chin strap is fitting properly if it is tight enough to keep your jaw closed while your mouth is relaxed when asleep but you are still able to open your mouth when talking. So, if you are a mouth breather, the utilization of sleep apnea chin straps has been proven effective to help many sleep apnea sufferers.

What to Expect From a Sleep Apnea Chin Strap

By utilizing the chin strap, a sleep apnea sufferer will be able to establish a consistent pattern of breathing through their nose and not the mouth. For patients with mild to moderate sleep apnea, the use of chin straps has been found to be very effective at reducing episodes of sleep apnea. A sleep apnea chin strap can be purchased without a prescription from a physician, so it is readily accessible for those with sleep apnea symptoms.

Other successful treatments include the use of what we call OAT or Oral Appliance Therapy. With OAT, dentists that have been specifically trained to treat sleep disorders such as sleep apnea can prescribe treatment with oral sleep apnea devices. These types of sleep apnea devices are often utilized by individuals that have unsuccessfully tried CPAP therapy. With this kind of treatment, the patient or client will wear a specifically designed mouth piece while sleeping. This device helps to realign the jaw while the person is sleeping in order to maintain and establish a clear and open breathing passage. There are numerous types of oral appliances on the market today. Some fairly inexpensive models are available without a prescription but they tend to be less effective. If you are interested in trying an oral sleep apnea appliance, consult with a trained dentist that specializes in sleep apnea treatment.

As with most treatments for sleep apnea, different options work better for some people. Some sleep apnea sufferers just can’t tolerate CPAP so they seek CPAP alternatives. For others, sleep apnea oral appliances cause irritation or their jaw structure doesn’t allow their use. Another type of oral appliance is a tongue retaining or tongue advancing device. These are designed to hold the tongue and prevent it from falling back into the throat causing obstruction during sleep.

Fortunately for sleep apnea sufferers, many different treatment options exist today. If you suffer from mild to moderate sleep apnea, one of the oldest remedies is the use of a chin strap. Since they are non-invasive and do not require a prescription, they are readily available. If money is a concern, a sleep apnea chin strap may be an effective treatment option to consider.

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