My wife snores. Is there a mouthpiece or anything else she can wear to help? | Ask the Expert: Ear, Nose and Throat with Dr. Smedley at Utica Park Clinic

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Question:

My wife snores. Is there a mouthpiece or anything else she can wear to help?

Answer:

Yes! Frequently, sleep apnea not only impacts the person who has it, but their partner as well. For every person I help address their snoring and sleep apnea, there’s someone else that is also getting a better night’s sleep. Many times, there’s a whole household of people that collectively get a better night’s sleep each night.

TV and radio broadcasts are full of items claiming to stop snoring. I am frequently asked if they work. The answer is simple: maybe, depending on where your obstruction is. The truth is, obstructive sleep apnea and snoring can be due to nasal obstruction, palate obstruction or tongue base obstruction. Most cases are a combination of those, or what we describe as “multilevel obstructive sleep apnea.” A CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine or BiPAP (Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure) machine aims to create a “pneumatic splint” or column of pressurized air that prevents these areas from obstructing your sleep, but that is not the only way to address many cases of obstructive sleep apnea. In fact, most sleep study reports recommend a full nasal and oral airway evaluation PRIOR to initiating CPAP or BiPAP therapy to assure these obstructions are identified and treated to improve tolerance of the machines.

The best way to treat your snoring is to find out exactly where your obstructions are and address them. A mouthpiece aims to bring the lower jaw forward and therefore creates space between the back of the tongue and the back of the throat. This will work very effectively if your only site of obstruction is the tongue base. It will not help with nasal obstruction, however, which is another common site of obstruction. So you want to know where your sites of obstruction are and have a plan of attack for each of them.

This is where the exciting changes in sleep medicine can have the biggest impact on snoring sufferers (and their partners) today. At Bailey Medical Center, I offer a Drug Induced Sleep Endoscopy (DISE), which is a simple procedure (similar to a gastrointestinal endoscopy) where you are given some medication to fall asleep and I use an endoscope to visualize your exact sites of obstruction in the nose, soft palate, and tongue base. The procedure lasts only a matter of minutes and you are able to leave with a clear vision of what will make a difference for you. We will show you the exact cause of your obstructions and snoring. Together, we can decide on a specific plan to

address your specific needs. This allows us to minimize your pain and maximize your results.

Imagine not spending all of your energy each day simply trying to stay awake! Your own snoring (or the snoring of a loved one) is keeping you from sleeping soundly each night and having the energy you need to face each new day. The answer may be far simpler than you have ever imagined.

Whether you have already been diagnosed with sleep apnea, wonder if you may have it, snore loudly, or know someone that does, come and see me for a DISE. There’s no better way to find and address the exact cause of your snoring and sleep apnea. Even if you have had failure with previous treatments, let me show you how we can make the future of your treatment a success. You’ll be glad you did!