Chin Straps for Snoring: A Cure or a Danger?

If you snore it doesn't necessarily mean that you have sleep apnea...but it does mean that you could have sleep apnea. Snoring occurs in the back of the throat where the soft palate collapses thus restricting air flow.  How much and how often it collapses is how the diagnosis is made.  If a snorers mouth remains closed forcing them to only breathe through their nose--- the soft palate will still collapse from the air coming in through the nose.  The only treatments that could keep the throat open is pressurized air (CPAP machine), moving the jaw forward (dental mouthpiece) or surgery.

The chin straps that companies are advertising as "snore cure" will only make a difference reducing the sound of the snoring. There is still oxygen deprivation because the 'snore originates' in the back of the throat--- not in your mouth. Obviously the nasal air passage is smaller than the throat air passage... so personally I would want to make sure that my mouth was wide open if my soft palate was prone to collapse during sleeping. 

There are several companies that claim to cure snoring by using a chin strap to keep your mouth closed. 

It makes sense that there could be a less annoying snore if forced to breathe through the nose.  But it's important to point out ----this can be very dangerous for people who do have sleep apnea and don't know it.  If they don't seek a medical exam for their snoring and purchase what they believe will be a quick fix--- this could be a be a major health risk.

I found a blog/advertisement for a chin strap that states "you can harm yourself if you continue to breathe through your mouth as you may suffer from dry mouth"  What?!  You mean I can be harmed from dry mouth?  I can see harming someone else with my bad breathe from dry mouth ----but dry mouth being "a harm" to me would be a stretch.  What about the oxygen desaturations that are still occurring but through a smaller air passage? What about someone who has undiagnosed obstructive sleep apnea and they're delaying a doctor visit because they now have a quieter snore?  I would call that a potential harm.

Here is just one of the many companies that are advertising "to put an end to your snoring."

Comments

[Down Pillow]

I think those breathe right strips are great. Also a good firm pillow - makes you slep on your side.