Why Your CPAP Machine Is Collecting Dust—And What Actually Works Instead

There’s a familiar scene playing out in bedrooms across Northern Virginia. A CPAP machine sits on the nightstand, its hose coiled up, gathering dust. The person who was supposed to use it every night gave up weeks or months ago. They still have sleep apnea. They still wake up exhausted. But they just couldn’t make peace with sleeping while tethered to a machine that sounds like a small vacuum cleaner.

If this sounds like you, you’re not alone. Studies show that roughly half of all CPAP users abandon their machines within the first year, and many never achieve consistent nightly use. The good news? CPAP isn’t your only option anymore—and for many people, it’s not even the best one.

Why So Many People Give Up on CPAP

CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) therapy works by delivering a constant stream of pressurized air through a mask to keep your airway open while you sleep. When used consistently, it’s effective. The problem is that “consistently” is where things fall apart.

The reasons people abandon CPAP are numerous and legitimate:

• Mask discomfort: straps that leave marks, pressure points that cause soreness, masks that never quite seal properly
• Claustrophobia: many people experience anxiety or panic when wearing a mask that covers their nose or face
• Noise disruption: even quieter models produce enough sound to disturb light sleepers—or their partners
• Dry mouth and nasal congestion: the forced air dries out airways, leading to discomfort and morning sore throats
• Travel complications: hauling CPAP equipment through airports and finding outlets in hotel rooms adds stress to every trip
• Intimacy interference: let’s be honest—sleeping with a mask and hose doesn’t exactly enhance romance
• Skin irritation: prolonged mask contact causes breakouts, rashes, and pressure sores for some users

These aren’t minor inconveniences. When treatment feels worse than the problem, people stop treating the problem. Unfortunately, untreated sleep apnea doesn’t just mean fatigue—it significantly increases risks for high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and even car accidents from drowsy driving.

The Hidden Cost of Untreated Sleep Apnea

Walking away from CPAP without finding an alternative isn’t a neutral choice. Every night of untreated obstructive sleep apnea means your body experiences repeated oxygen drops while you sleep. Your brain partially wakes you—sometimes dozens of times per hour—to restart breathing.

The cumulative effect goes far beyond feeling tired. Research links untreated sleep apnea to cognitive decline and memory problems, increased rates of depression and anxiety, weight gain from disrupted sleep hormones, relationship strain from loud snoring, and shortened lifespan. For professionals in the Alexandria, Arlington, and Falls Church areas—where demanding careers require sharp thinking—untreated sleep apnea undermines everything you’re working toward.

Oral Appliance Therapy: The CPAP Alternative Most People Don’t Know About

Here’s what many sleep apnea sufferers never learn: custom oral appliances can effectively treat mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea, and they work for some severe cases too. These devices look similar to sports mouthguards or orthodontic retainers. You slip one in before bed, and it gently repositions your lower jaw forward to keep your airway open.

No mask. No hose. No machine. No noise.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recognizes oral appliance therapy as a first-line treatment for mild to moderate sleep apnea and recommends it for patients who can’t tolerate CPAP. Modern oral appliances have come a long way from the bulky, uncomfortable devices of the past.

Today’s options include:

• SomnoMed devices: lightweight, comfortable, and customized to fit your mouth precisely, these appliances come in several styles including Herbst and TAP configurations
• Thornton Adjustable Positioner (TAP): patient-adjustable devices that let you fine-tune jaw positioning for optimal results
• Diamond Digital Sleep Orthotic (DDSO): FDA-approved appliances created using advanced CAD/CAM technology for exceptional precision and fit

The key difference between a drugstore snore guard and a professional oral appliance is customization. Dr. Hye Park takes detailed impressions and measurements to create a device that fits your unique anatomy. The appliance can then be adjusted over time to maximize effectiveness while maintaining comfort.

What Makes a Good Candidate for Oral Appliance Therapy?

Oral appliances work best for certain profiles:

• Mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea: these devices effectively reduce apnea events and improve oxygen levels for most patients in this range
• CPAP intolerance: if you’ve tried CPAP and couldn’t stick with it, oral appliances offer a viable path forward
• Primary snoring: even without a sleep apnea diagnosis, severe snoring responds well to oral appliance therapy
• Frequent travelers: the compact, portable nature of oral appliances makes them ideal for people on the go
• Position-dependent sleep apnea: some people only experience apnea when sleeping on their back, and oral appliances can help regardless of position

During a consultation, Dr. Park evaluates your specific situation—including the severity of your sleep apnea, your jaw anatomy, and your lifestyle needs—to determine whether oral appliance therapy is appropriate for you.

NightLase: Treating Sleep Apnea Without Wearing Anything at All

For some patients, the ideal sleep apnea treatment is one that doesn’t require wearing any device to bed. NightLase laser therapy offers exactly that possibility.

NightLase uses gentle laser energy to tighten the soft tissues at the back of your throat—the tissues that collapse and vibrate during sleep, causing both snoring and airway obstruction. The procedure stimulates collagen production, which firms and tightens these tissues over time.

What makes NightLase appealing:

• Non-invasive: no surgery, no incisions, no anesthesia
• Painless: patients typically describe the sensation as warm and comfortable
• No downtime: you can return to normal activities immediately after treatment
• Lasting results: a series of three to four sessions produces effects that can last up to a year or longer
• Significant improvement: many patients experience 50% or greater reduction in snoring

NightLase can work as a standalone treatment for snoring and mild sleep apnea, or it can complement oral appliance therapy for enhanced results. Some patients use it to reduce their dependence on CPAP or to make their oral appliance work more effectively.

Finding the Right Solution for Your Sleep

The path to better sleep isn’t one-size-fits-all. The critical first step is getting a proper evaluation from a sleep specialist who understands all available options—not just CPAP.

Dr. Hye Park brings a unique perspective to sleep apnea treatment. With advanced training in sleep and airway dentistry, certification from the American College of Integrative Medicine in Dentistry, and expertise as a VIVOS integrated dental practitioner, she approaches each patient’s sleep issues comprehensively. At Northern Virginia Sleep Solutions, patients receive thorough evaluations to determine sleep apnea severity and develop personalized treatment plans.

Stop Settling for Exhaustion

That dusty CPAP machine isn’t helping anyone. Neither is accepting chronic fatigue as your new normal. If you’ve given up on CPAP—or if you’ve been diagnosed with sleep apnea and dread starting CPAP therapy—alternatives exist that might change everything.

Imagine waking up actually rested. Having energy that lasts through your afternoon meetings. Thinking clearly without that persistent brain fog. Feeling like yourself again.

These outcomes are possible when you find sleep apnea treatment that actually works for your life.

Take the Next Step Toward Better Sleep in Northern Virginia

Northern Virginia Sleep Solutions serves patients throughout Alexandria, Arlington, Falls Church, and the surrounding communities who are ready to reclaim restful sleep. Dr. Hye Park and her team offer complimentary consultations to discuss your sleep concerns and explore treatment options that fit your needs.

Don’t let another night of poor sleep steal tomorrow’s potential. Contact Northern Virginia Sleep Solutions at (571) 290-7977 to schedule your consultation, or take the online sleep quiz to learn more about your symptoms. Better sleep—and better health—is closer than you think.