Frequently Asked Questions

Snoring is caused by vibration of the structures of the throat during sleep. When you sleep, the muscles of the upper airway and tongue relax and partially collapse. The narrowest parts of the throat can then create turbulence in the air flowing through your upper airway as you exhale – creating the snoring sound.

You’re more likely to snore if you:

• Are overweight
• Smoke
• Drink too much alcohol
• Sleep on your back

While snoring itself is not detrimental to your health, research shows that snoring affects the sleep quality of the snorer and the bed partner. It also may be indicative of a more serious condition called mild obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Mild OSA is a serious health condition associated with other health problems, such as high blood pressure and increased risks of heart attack, stroke, or death.

Sleep apnea is often associated with snoring, daytime sleepiness, and fatigue. It is also common for loved ones of sleep apnea patients to notice that their partner momentarily holds their breath or stops breathing during the night. Sleep apnea is a serious health condition associated with health problems like high blood pressure and increased risks of heart attack, stroke, or death.

If you have these symptoms or are concerned you may have the condition, please see your doctor. With a sleep test, your doctor can diagnose your condition and recommend a course of action.

eXciteOSA improves the muscle function in the tongue through stimulation therapy. Improvement of muscle function prevents the tongue from collapsing backwards and trains the upper airway to remain open during sleep, thereby improving sleep quality.

Multiple clinical studies have tested the effectiveness of eXciteOSA therapy and have observed statistically significant reductions in both mild obstructive sleep apnea and snoring measurements. In a group of 65 mild OSA patients, 79% noticed a notable reduction in three different mild OSA measurements (AHI, ODI, and ESS Score). In a group of 115 snoring patients, 90% demonstrated an objective snoring reduction of 46%.

We have additional ongoing clinical trials in the US that will be completed in the near future. More information can be found at eXciteOSA.com.

eXciteOSA is not currently covered by insurance, but it is FSA and HSA compatible.

Your eXciteOSA device should be worn for twenty minutes a day, one time each day, for six weeks, and only twice per week thereafter.

Each session includes four, 5-minute simulation therapy phases.

Some patients experience a slight accumulation of saliva, but this sensation will likely go away after a few therapy sessions.

You will not be eligible for eXciteOSA therapy if you…

• are pregnant or may become pregnant.
• have a pacemaker, or an implanted electrode.
• have dental jewelry in the mouth.
• are suffering from mouth ulcers.
• have or are suspected of having an AHI ≥ 15 as determined by evaluation by a Sleep Health Professional with a sleep study.

Our clinical trials did not include patients with a BMI over 35, so it is not known if the eXciteOSA® therapy will be effective in patients with a BMI above 35.

• Control unit
• Mouthpiece
• USB charging cable
• USB extender cable
• Quick Start Guide

Most users notice improvements in as soon as 6 weeks. Efficacy is dependent upon adherence to the recommended therapy program of 20-minute sessions, completed 1 time each day, for 6 weeks.

Therapy sessions are 20 minutes long, are completed 1 time each day, for 6 weeks. A minimum of two 20-minute sessions are required each week thereafter. Failure to complete the therapy sessions following the 6-week period may result in a return of your mild obstructive sleep apnea and/or snoring symptoms. Consistency is key!

The control unit is charged through the USB port using a USB charging cable. The blue light of the control unit will blink during charging and become continuous when fully charged.

The mouthpiece is connected to the control unit through a USB connector. The mouthpiece is placed in your mouth, positioning it around your tongue. Two tabs of the mouthpiece should sit comfortably above and two sit below – like a glove. There’s no need to bite down on the mouthpiece or do anything to hold it in position. The mouthpiece is designed so when you gently close your mouth, it will naturally sit around your tongue and won’t move during the therapy.

We are confident that our mouthpiece will function safely and as intended for 90 days. Beyond this period, the safety and functional performance of the mouthpiece is not guaranteed and places our patients at undue risk.

The mouthpiece will deactivate and not function. Be sure to order a replacement mouthpiece well in advance of 90 days so that your therapy schedule is not interrupted.

A new mouthpiece will be available on our website eXciteOSA.com

The mouthpiece is made from flexible silicone which should sit around your tongue comfortably. If you experience any discomfort, reposition the mouthpiece into a more comfortable position. Like any object when placed in the mouth, you might experience increased saliva in your mouth while doing the therapy, or in rare cases a gag reflex.

If you experience excessive salivation during your therapy, you can pause the therapy, address the saliva, and then continue with the therapy.

It is normal to salivate when using the device. To prevent moisture from getting into the USB port, please attach one end of the extender cable into the control unit and the other end into the mouthpiece during your sessions.

You can use the extender cable if you are experiencing excess salivation and moisture is entering your control unit. This extender cable will help prevent moisture entering your control unit. The extender cable can be used as an intermediate connection between the Control Unit and Mouthpiece during therapy.

Mouthpiece

The mouthpiece should be cleaned before and after each use. Use tap water to clean the mouthpiece. Dry with a clean towel and store in a dry place. DO NOT clean with alcohol-based cleaning solutions.

Control Unit

Wipe the control unit surface with a damp cloth or antiseptic wipe once a week.
DO NOT immerse the control unit in water or cleaning solutions. Always store the control unit in a dry place.

The device can be used at any point during the day. Some users prefer to use the device right before sleep because this helps them be more consistent. We recommend using the device during a time of day that will allow you to build a steady habit out of your therapy.

When the therapy is running, the timer on the app will tick down. Additionally, the blue LED ‘S’ logo on the control unit will blink once every 5 seconds. Most importantly, you should feel gentle contractions of your tongue muscle.

Once you begin therapy, you’ll have the ability to manually change your therapy levels during every session, every day. This is what makes this experience so unique to you. To change the level, simply slide your therapy level setting at the bottom of your screen on the eXciteOSA mobile app during your session.

While therapy level can be controlled manually, there is a cutoff in place to ensure that the device does not exceed 70 mA.

It is important to set the device to the highest possible therapy level that still feels comfortable for you. This will ensure the best possible outcome.

Remember that this journey will be unique to you; your intensity threshold might be 5 or 13. While it is not required to reach the maximum end of the scale, it is recommended to keep the therapy level at or above 4 to ensure effectiveness.

It is important to note that therapy levels outside of your comfort zone will not improve outcome or speed up results.

Each 20 session is broken up into four 5-minute intervals. Each interval will prompt the device to give off a different frequency. The frequencies will occur, in order, up to 20 Hz. Each 5-minute phase is meant to train your tongue in a different way.

It is recommended to only do one session each day. Just like your body needs to recover after a workout, your tongue also needs to rest and recharge.

With one full charge, you should be able to finish six 20-minute therapy sessions. The eXciteOSA app won’t allow you to start a new therapy unless there is adequate charge within the control unit to complete a full session.

If you are not completely satisfied with the eXciteOSA therapy, you may return it to us for a full refund. All Satisfaction Guarantee returns must be postmarked within 30 days of activating the device. All returned items must be in original packaging.

If your device is defective or damaged, please contact our customer support team at [email protected].

eXciteOSA provides a warranty to the original purchaser confirming the product will be free from defects in the material, components and workmanship for a period of 3 months for the mouthpiece from the date of purchase, and 1 year for the control unit.

For valid warranty claims, the user must return proof of purchase to [email protected].

The warranty does not include any misuse or abuse such as dropping the device, immersing the control unit in water or other liquids, or tampering with the device. Any evidence of tampering will void the warranty. This warranty does not apply to “wear and tear” that occurs with normal usage.

A digital version of the IFU is available for download on the eXciteOSA website.

If you’re having trouble pairing to the device during your first use…

• make sure that your control unit is totally charged.
• make sure that both your bluetooth and GPS functionality are turned on in your smartphone’s settings.

Try not to walk too far away from your phone during therapy. Aim to stay within 10 meters.

If there was a high accumulation of saliva during your therapy session, disconnect the mouthpiece from the control unit and dry off the connector. You may need to let the device sit for a few hours. Make sure the connector has dried thoroughly before starting another therapy session.

If you attempted to complete a therapy session while you were within 12 inches of any antenna cables or electrical equipment, retry your session while keeping distance from this equipment.

The Control Unit LED will flash blue and yellow if there is inadequate charge to run a full 20 minute therapy session. When Control Unit logo blinks blue and yellow, recharge the Control Unit.

If your Control Unit LED appears solid yellow when you connect it to a charging cable, this could mean that some moisture is inside of your control unit USB port. Please disconnect your control unit from the charging cable. Usually, if you wait 24 hours and try again, it should be operational. If not, please contact us at [email protected]

If your Control Unit flashes red and yellow during charge or during mouthpiece connection, this means moisture has been detected within the Control Unit USB-C connector. Disconnect the control unit, let it dry for at least 4 hours and try again. It is recommended to use your extender cable for any therapy sessions hereafter. If the issue persists, contact our support team at [email protected].

There may be a build up of saliva on your mouthpiece, try gently cleaning the mouthpiece electrodes with potable water.

Gradually increase your therapy levels until you feel stimulation again. Over the duration of your therapy program, your tolerance levels will increase, which means that you will likely find yourself increasing the therapy level from week to week.

If you cannot feel any stimulation coming from the back electrodes, try to reposition the mouthpiece so it comfortably encompasses your tongue, like a glove. This should allow the back electrodes to make contact with your tongue.

If you still cannot feel any stimulation on one side or at all, check for any visible damage to the mouthpiece and try gently washing the mouthpiece.
If the issue persists, please contact our customer support team through the in-app chat, the most efficient way to reach us, or at [email protected].

For additional information, visit our website at eXciteOSA.com, call us at +1 844 MildOSA, or contact us via email at [email protected].