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CPAP Alternatives: Sleep Apnea Treatments Without CPAP

In most cases, CPAP will be the first-line treatment suggested for OSA since it’s been proved to be most effective. However, it requires high compliance in order to be impactful, meaning that if you don’t actually wear your mask through the night on most nights, then it’s not going to help. In that case, it could be worth looking into alternatives. Studies have shown that people with milder OSA have found relief through a variety of lifestyle changes including using special mouth guards, changes in sleep positions, and weight loss. Newer treatments include the GLP-1 prescription medication Zepbound and sleep apnea surgeries.

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 Some people claim taping your mouth shut helps you sleep better—but what are the risks?

The popular trend claims that taping can reduce dry mouth, prevent snoring, and help you stay asleep, but there are safety concerns.

Articles of Interest

Mouth-taping to treat sleep apnoea – here are the risks

A recent study showed that mouth taping, as mimicked by closing the mouth in people with sleep apnoea, may not be the cure-all that many had hoped for. Although it increased airflow in some participants, it reduced it in others. So mouth taping is certainly not a one-size-fits-all solution. A few other studies on mouth taping have shown that it can offer some benefit. However, these, like the more recent study, usually contain few participants and tend to only include those with mild sleep apnoea. Another problem with mouth taping is that some people end up exhaling out the side of their mouth where there is no tape – so-called “mouth puffing”. This can lead to insufficient oxygen in the blood and potentially too much carbon dioxide, which can cause the body to go into a stressed state.

A Pill for Sleep Apnea Could Be on the Horizon

Experts say that if the new drug gets approved, it may lead to a big shift in how we treat the condition.

An Effective Alternative to CPAP for Sleep Apnea

What's most important is finding the right treatment and sticking with it. Sleep apnea is a serious health condition. Fortunately, treatments used correctly -- whether CPAP or oral appliance -- can significantly improve your sleep and your general health.

Beyond CPAP: Other options for sleep apnea

If you have tried lifestyle measures or CPAP for a few months and you are still having problems with sleep apnea, you may want to consider one of these procedures to remove excess tissue so that it no longer blocks your throat:

Can't Get Used To A CPAP? Here Are 6 Alternative Options For Sleep Apnea

Just as there are dental professionals who specialize in orthodontics or dental implants, there are also dental professionals who can help with sleep apnea. Oral appliances, also called “mandibular advancement devices,” are specialized mouthguards that can help hold the tongue in place or ease the jaw forward, helping to keep your airway open while you sleep.

Dental appliances for sleep apnea: Do they work?

"These devices are supposed to reposition your jaw or tongue to open your upper airway. But they can be really uncomfortable and only work about half the time," Dr. Javaheri says. It's hard to predict who might benefit from using an oral device, and people with very mild OSA and few symptoms may not notice any difference. As a result, she generally doesn't recommend them except for people with mild to moderate OSA or those with severe OSA who can't tolerate PAP.

Get Stoned, Snore Less: New Survey Shows Cannabis Can Help With Sleep Apnea

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How Do Oral Appliances Work for Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

These devices can lessen symptoms for some people with mild or moderate OSA. Custom-made MADs tend to be more effective than other types of dental appliances. They can lessen snoring and lower your apnea-hypopnea index (AHI). Your AHI is used to rate how severe your OSA is. Compared to CPAP machines, dental appliances are not as useful in treating OSA. However, if you cannot use a CPAP machine, using a dental appliance may be a good option.

I Tried Gwyneth Paltrow’s Favorite Mouth Tape for a Week

If you aren’t familiar with mouth-taping, Teresa Power, CCSH, founder of Sleep Better NYC, explains: “It is the practice of placing a small strip of skin-safe tape over your lips at night to encourage nasal breathing during sleep. Usually, the tape allows for some lip movement and airflow, so you shouldn’t feel claustrophobic. Interestingly, it’s less about the mouth and more about the nose—mouth-taping helps nudge your body toward healthier breathing patterns.”

New tongue-stimulating implant offers hope to millions with sleep apnoea in UK first

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NHS begins treating sleep apnoea with pioneering chest implant

Small device already used in Europe and US works by making tongue contract and move out of windpipe.

Non-CPAP therapy for obstructive sleep apnoea

Treatment of obstructive sleep apnoea in adults is evolving, from a “one treatment fits all” to a more individualised approach. The spectrum of treatment options is broad and heterogeneous, including conservative, technological and pharmaceutical modalities. This raises the questions of which patients these modalities might be useful for, and if there are specific criteria for single or combined treatment. The most commonly used non-CPAP treatment is a mandibular advancement device. Furthermore, it appears from the available evidence that upper airway surgery, bariatric surgery, and maxillomandibular advancement can be effective in particular patient groups and should be indicated more readily in clinical practice.

Oral Appliances for Snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Treatment with positive airway pressure (PAP) is considered first-line therapy, due to an efficacy rate of approximately 95%, yet long-term compliance with PAP is less than 40%. The efficacy of a sleep oral appliance is lower than PAP, yet it may have similar effectiveness. A sleep oral appliance is a reasonable second-line therapy for patients who refuse or fail PAP and may be reasonable first-line therapy.

Startups Seek New Treatments for Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Somnair, backed with seed financing, is one of several companies advancing alternatives to CPAP for sleep disorder.

Suffering From Sleep Apnea? Try Blowing Into a Conch Shell Almost Daily, New Study Suggests

Researchers say the practice might provide a simpler and low-cost alternative to the standard treatment for obstructive sleep apnea, though trials with more participants are needed.

The Importance of Pillows

We not only use pillows for the comfort and coziness that we feel as we lay our head down on them, but pillows give us support for our head and neck while we sleep. The proper pillow with the proper support for your head and neck is very important. To me just as important as a CPAP machine.

Treatments Compared: Sleep Apnea Mouth Guard vs CPAP Machine

Many people are turning to over-the-counter (OTC) oral devices for sleep apnea because they cost less and seem to be more convenient than CPAP machines or custom-fitted oral appliances from a dentist. OTC devices are easy to purchase without a prescription and offer a seemingly simple, non-invasive solution. Additionally, some individuals may be looking for alternatives to CPAP due to the discomfort or inconvenience associated with wearing a mask at night, leading them to explore OTC options. But are they effective? Are they safe? Do they have side effects? These are all very good questions that unfortunately often don’t have clear answers.

Resources

4 Sleep Apnea Devices Ranked From Best to Worst

This common, potentially serious sleep disorder causes repeated breathing interruptions, preventing you from getting the restorative rest needed for excellent health. The good news? Modern treatments like CPAP, sleep apnea mouthguards, oral appliances, and surgical treatments can help.

Daybreak

The Daybreak device is proven to effectively treat sleep apnea. Oral devices have been around for 30+ years as an effective treatment of sleep apnea. But the process to get them can be slow and expensive. Our fully at-home process means you can get an FDA-cleared custom device in a fraction of the time, without the hassle.