Tongue retainers are also known as “oral appliance” and some people are not that familiar with them. There are plenty of good things that tongue retainers can do for our health and I’m here to help you learn them!
So, do tongue retainers work? Yes, tongue retainers are actually useful for treating sleep apnea and preventing snoring. It is used as a substitute to CPAP or sleep apnea oral surgeries.
Tongue retainers are custom made and molded after the shape of the patient’s mouth and teeth. It works by moving the jaws forward which opens the upper airway, allowing the body to breathe better.
Usually, these tongue retainers are suggested for patients that are overweight. Losing weight together with using tongue retainers will prevent sleep apnea for them and it will definitely work.
Aside from treating sleep apnea itself, tongue retainers also lessen snoring. Though heavy snoring is a sign of sleep apnea, some treatments don’t get rid of but the tongue retainers definitely can control that.
People with mild to severe obstructive sleep apnea can use tongue retainers and treat sleep apnea symptoms effectively. It is also reported that tongue retainers provide quick relief for its users.
Before getting yourself a tongue retainer, it is highly recommended by experts to allow a sleep study first in order to properly diagnose the patient.
Sleep apnea can be caused by different conditions and that’s why determining what kind of sleep apnea you have or what causes your sleep apnea is important to make the tongue retainers work.
Most of the sleep apnea patients that have tried tongue retainers tend to prefer them better than the CPAP treatment since it is a lot more comfortable for them or perhaps, a lot more tolerable.
Other than that, it is also easy to carry tongue retainers since they are small and light.
This clearly shows that the tongue retainers can work just like the other treatments for sleep apnea and snoring.
What are the benefits of tongue retainers
Tongue retainers work and they come with a few benefits and that’s why they are preferred by people who have sleep apnea.
- Provides instant relief
- After one usage, most of the patients feel relieved compared to other treatments that may take a while sometimes
- Does not need electricity
- Other treatments require users to plug them to machines and such, some need to be charged or use battery but tongue retainers definitely do not need them
- Durable and safe
- They are guaranteed safe to use, always go to your trusted dentist to have them made. However, they are expected to last for about 1 to 2 years which is normal for dental devices
- Good for traveling
- It’s small and light, can be easily taken anywhere, it’s also hidden when used unlike other treatments
- Provides more comfort
- It does not become a nuisance so users can sleep without worrying about accidentally plugging off machines or removing it unconsciously
However, there is still a downside for this wonderful tool for treating sleep apnea and snoring.
Sometimes, patients are observed to experience what we call a temporal mandibular joint arthritis or arthralgia (pain). This means some may feel pain around the mandible area.
There are also cases when users have difficulty in moving their teeth together after long usage. Sometimes, also after long usage, the position of the teeth may also be shifted and may require proper care to fix it.
To avoid this, the patient must make sure to get the right custom tongue retainers that will not cause any problem for them. Also, it’s okay to stop using the retainers once a while to give the mouth a normal rest.
What can you do if tongue retainers do not work
Once again, people have different conditions and tongue retainers may not be the answer for you. If this is the case, there are plenty of options you still have to treat your sleep apnea.
- Rapid Maxillary Expansion
- For children with obstructive sleep apnea. This process places an expandable brace on the roof of the mouth that increases the width of the upper jaw (maxilla).
- Over time, parents can adjust the brace using a special key to increase the amount of pressure for the teeth.
- Snoring may be rare for children, which is why if they do snore, then it may be a clear sign of sleep apnea.
- Jaw Advancement Surgery
- For teenagers and adults. This process will surgically break the jaw bones, moved forward and then fixed properly with screws and plates and will change the person’s facial structure or profile.
- It might take months to recover.
- CPAP Machine Treatment
- Works for any age. Stands for “Continuous Positive Airway Pressure device”
- The person diagnosed will have to use a mask connected to a machine that will force air to the obstructed airway from the oropharyngeal.
- The mask placed over the mouth or nose will blow air into the airway to help keep it open during sleep. Highly recommended and proven effective by a majority of sleep apnea patient.
- There are also mini CPAP that can be used.
- Surgical Airway Advancement
- Similar to the 2nd example. Bones of the upper and lower jaw will be repositioned in a way that will relieve airway obstruction.
And in case you are concerned about the snoring alone, here’s some tips for you.
- Lose weight.
- Being overweight can cause sleep apnea which causes loud snores. Get plenty of exercises and maintain a healthy balanced diet.
- Follow proper sleeping position
- Make sure to elevate your head properly on the pillow to keep your neck relaxed and try sleeping on your side so the tongue does not mildly block the airway in the throat.
- Stop or avoid smoking too much.
- Excessive smoking can cause or worsen sleep apnea. Reducing your smoke intake per day will also reduce the snoring. If possible, quit smoking to potentially get rid of sleep apnea.
- Avoid excessive alcohol consumption
- Drinking too much alcohol before sleeping can cause and worsen sleep apnea just like smoking.
- Avoid sedatives before going to sleep
- Certain sedatives can cause snoring. Consult a medical expert to determine what type of sedative may be the cause.
- Maintain a proper sleep routine.
- Sometimes, we snore simply because we don’t get enough sleep. Sleep properly and the snoring will eventually stop.
- Don’t overwork yourself all the time.
- Snoring is normal when caused by fatigue, going to sleep exhausted can cause us to snore because the body is too tired.
- Treat chronic allergies
- Some allergies can trigger obstruction in your body’s airways and may cause you to snore. Treat or avoid triggering your allergies to avoid snoring.
Once again, the best tongue retainers for you will be made if you consult an expert. Perhaps, your current tongue retainer is not the right one for you and you can try to get a different one by requesting it from the dentist.
How much tongue retainers cost
The price of tongue retainers will vary depending on the type that will be made. First of all, they are custom and the price will not be consistent. Although, the average amount should be around $1800 to $2000.
Depending on your area, the price range can be different as well.
Getting tongue retainers at full amount means you are also capable of having dentist visits to help you maintain the retainers and check on your progress to see if the retainers are helping your sleep apnea.
When do you need tongue retainers
When exactly do you need to use tongue retainers? After all, the costs may be expensive depending on where you live. If you’re not ready to be diagnosed by a doctor, you can look out for the symptoms on your own.
- When you snore heavily
- Maybe, it can be a sign of fatigue but snoring loudly and usually can be a sign of sleep apnea.
- Gasping for air during sleep
- The feeling of drowning without knowing it and suddenly you’re out of air.
- If you have insomnia
- Having trouble going to sleep because you have breathing problems that you may not notice
- If you experience hypersomnia
- Having trouble staying awake in the morning because you were unable to sleep well due to your sleep apnea
- Waking up with a headache
- Sleep apnea can disturb your body’s “charging” state. Since you can’t sleep well, your body will use energy for means that can help you breathe which may lead to headaches.
- Waking up with a dry mouth
- With sleep apnea, the person tends to snore and keep their mouth open when gasping for air which leads to a dried up mouth once we awaken.
- Decreased ability to focus
- Sleep apnea can give lack of sleep which will also result in difficulty to focus on anything
- Feeling uncomfortable
- Your lack of energy due to sleep apnea can make you feel uncomfortable and irritable without your knowledge
- Suddenly stop breathing during sleep
- Your housemates should notice this and tell you about it. Sleep apnea can disrupt breathing that may last for up to 10 seconds which is already risky.
If you live alone or don’t have any means to check the symptoms by yourself, there are sleep centers that conduct “sleep studies” where you will stay for several nights where doctors and nurses will observe you.
Related Questions
- Do nasal strips work?
Yes, nasal strips actually work very well in the snoring and lessening the severity of sleep apnea attacks if the cause of sleep apnea is due to nasal obstruction.
If your snoring or sleep apnea is caused by a nasal problem, then nasal strips will definitely work since it helps open airways in order to make the patient breathe properly.
- Can snoring kill you?
Yes, snoring can kill or rather, the cause behind the snore is what can kill you. Snoring loudly every time you sleep is a major sign of sleep apnea, an illness that can kill people in their sleep.
Sleep apnea interrupts our breathing for a few seconds up to two minutes, that amount of time is already dangerous to our health.
This illness will attack for approximately 400 times every time we sleep at night. The continuous disruption in our breathing will eventually affect our heart and our brains.
