Study to Examine the Effect of Silicone Mouth Tape on Snoring and Mild Sleep Apnea.

Plain-language summary

Snoring is a common problem caused by vibration of tissues in the throat region during sleep. Although snoring is sometimes dismissed as a minor nuisance rather than a medical disorder, several studies indicate that snoring can disrupt sleep quality of the snorer, as well as the snorer's bed partner. Snoring also might lead to problems such as dry mouth, bad breath, dental problems, and even cardiovascular disease. Current treatments for snoring include lifestyle modifications such as weight loss, side-sleeping, and avoidance of evening alcohol intake. In some cases, invasive surgeries, dental devices, or even CPAP are recommended for snoring. These interventions have mixed effectiveness and may be difficult to use. It may be possible to treat snoring by fostering nasal breathing, while avoiding mouth-breathing during sleep. Breathing through the mouth reduces the airway diameter and contributes to snoring. Several studies show that nasal breathing can reduce snoring volume and improve airflow. Recent studies have shown that covering the mouth during sleep with adhesive patches or tape can improve snoring volume without adverse effects. However, these studies were performed in a small number of patients and did not fully measure the impact of the intervention on sleep quality, sleep architecture, or the experience of the bed partner, who is often the overlooked "victim" of the snoring. In this interventional study, the investigators will examine the safety and efficacy of mouth tape for snoring, focusing on subjective and objective snoring/breathing metrics of both the snorer and bed partner. Snoring is sometimes also a sign of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). If OSA is ruled out with a sleep study, patients are considered to have "simple" snoring. When OSA is mild (apnea hypopnea index 15), treatments can include the same interventions as snoring (e.g. weight loss, avoidance of alcohol, side-sleeping) or can be more aggressively treated with devices such as continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). CPAP may be challenging to use, expensive, and associated with side effects such as mouth dryness and skin irritation. Alternative, inexpensive, and well-tolerated interventions are needed for mild OSA. For this reason, the investigators include patients with snoring and mild OSA in this study.

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