3.25 Star Rating
Ripsnore is a stop snoring device that was created by David Colin Campbell in 2009. Mr. Campbell is listed as the “director” of the company but is also said to be the creator.
Over the past 4 years, the device spread across Europe and eventually made its way into the United States. Currently, it sells online in Australia, the UK, Canada, and the USA. It is also the only MAD sold at chemists and pharmacies in Australia and New Zealand. The unit is classified as a MAD and like all other products on the market, it claims to puts an end to your snoring.
Product details
This boil and bite device can be custom fitted at home. Simply heat the device in warm water and insert into your mouth while adjusting your jaw slightly forward, ensuring that you lower teeth are positioned slightly in front of your upper. Remember to insert the breathing hole spacer before creating your impression. Drop in cold water for a few seconds, remove the spacer and the device is ready to use. Once this process has been completed, it will be completely transparent.
One unique feature found with the Ripsnore is the two breather holes located in the front of the device. Some products have one narrow passage, making breathing difficult while others have none at all. Dual air holes allow for better airflow and help to prevent the device from creating a whistling sound as air rushes past and into your airway.
While the manufacturer does not specify the material used in production, it is likely constructed of a medical grade plastic. They do specify it was created using “FDA approved materials” and that it is “BPA free”. FDA approved materials does not necessarily indicate that the device itself has been approved by the FDA.
Who’s behind the Ripsnore?
The company comprises of a middle age Aussie by the name of David Campbell along with 10 staff members in addition to local representatives and suppliers in Canada, the United States, and Britain.
Mr. Campbell is not a newcomer to the dental industry, as his family has a long history in the business. For years, his grandfather operated the largest dental supply company in Australia. His mother – a qualified dental practitioner.
David created the Ripsnore in order to solve his own snoring problem. Utilizing his skills and knowledge as an engineer, he developed this device with the help of his family who all together have been in the dental business for over 80 years. His wife, Jennifer, is credited with naming the device.
As for clinical trials, no information on studies could be found with this particular MAD.
It appears if Mr. Campbell has the experience and knowledge to create a useful product but does lack of clinical studies deem it as useless? Not necessarily. The truth is, most OTC stop snoring device available today were created by inventors and not necessarily professionals in the sleep industry. Also, there have been numerous studies done on the effects of MADs on snoring. Completing snoring clinical studies can be very time consuming and costly. For this reason alone, several manufacturers rely on others studies and base their product design around the proven devices used in the study.
My personal experience with the Ripsnore
I field tested the Ripsnore for 10 days and documented my experience in the video below.
The fitting process
Fitting requires hot & cold water, tongs, a stopwatch and mouthpiece
The fitting process was similar to other boil and bite devices that are commonly found online. I found the fitting process to be fairly straightforward and simple. In order to fit the device you need:
- 2 cups or so of boiling water
- 2 cups or so of ice cold water
- a pair of tongs
- a stopwatch
Here are the steps that I used to create an impression:
- Boil 2 cups of water on the stove and then transfer to another container such as a ceramic bowl or Pyrex dish.
- Create an ice bath using another bowl, water, and ice.
- Using a set of tongs, submerge the Ripsnore into the hot water for 30 seconds.
- Remove and allow to cool for a few seconds. Touch to the skin to ensure that its cool enough to put into your mouth.
- Place the device into your mouth (curved side up) and move the lower jaw slightly forward before biting down.
- Create a vacuum in your mouth by sucking the air out while using your fingers to push in on the gums.
- After 30 seconds, remove and place into an ice bath for 60 seconds.
- Remove spacer and check the fit.
I was able to get a good impression during the first try but if necessary, I could have placed it in hot water once again, this time for 18 seconds, and then remolded.
First night trying out the mouthpiece
Before going to bed I installed the device and waited for several minutes before I was able to fall asleep. Having a piece of plastic in your mouth can take some time to get used to. Once asleep, my wife monitored my snoring and said that I did not make a single sound the entire night! However, I did wake up with a puddle of drool running down the side of my face and a slight jaw ache. Hopefully, things will get better in the coming days.
The following 9 nights
My fitted Ripsnore
After 3 days, my jaw aches eventually passed and the drooling subsided. Falling asleep became much easier as my body became accustomed to wearing the mouth guard. From this point on it was smooth sailing. During the entire trial period, my wife says that I never snored one time so yes, it is effective when it comes to preventing snoring.
The two large breathing holes in the front provided adequate airflow which is important because I tend to breathe through my mouth while sleeping. The divider located down the middle of the air hole served its purpose by preventing the hole from collapsing if I were to bite down while asleep.
It was fairly comfortable to wear although I have tried other mouth guards which are much more compact and less bulky in the mouth. Improvements could be made to reduce the overall thickness of the unit. You will definitely feel and look like an orangutan when you install the RIPSnore so don’t forget to take it out before appearing in public!
In summary, here is a list of pro’s and con’s that I discovered:
Pros:
- The fitting process is simple and straightforward
- It works.
- It has 2 large breather holes which I found to provide adequate air flow
- The soft plastic material was easy on the gums
Cons:
- Getting accustomed to wearing it takes a little time and can cause drooling and a jaw ache at first
- A higher profile makes it a bit bulky in the mouth
UPDATE (10-29-13): I was contacted by Mr. Campbell in response to the thickness aspect the Ripsnore. Here’s what he had to say:
“Just a note on the thickness of the device as mentioned in your review. We did trial smaller models but decided on the larger version. This was due to 2 reasons.
1. A smaller device tends to not have the same resistance against jaw pull and therefore tends to be less effective and fail faster.
2. Teeth grinding. Most snorers grind their teeth and do not actually know it is happening. Therefore they also grind through the device, thus causing a failure.
We compromised in the design to obtain the maximum lifespan and also a comfortable fit. It could be smaller, but the lifespan and effectiveness would be shortened, therefore actually costing more to the customer in the long run. We did not want them to feel ‘ripped off’ in their experience of the product.”
Consumer review and complaints
Scattered throughout the web are various reviews of the RIPsnore. The general conscious is that this device is just as effective as many of the other anti-snoring apparatuses that are available. Creating a custom mold is easy and if you have difficulty the first time, you are able to try again up to 4 times.
Most have effectively reduced or eliminated their snoring issues while using the Ripsnore while few, mostly heavy snorers, saw little improvement.
As for the whistling sound commonly heard with other units, the 2 large breathing holes seem to have solved this issue.
Most users find getting accustomed to having a mouthpiece in at night can be a challenge which is usually overcome within a few days. Additionally, some people complain of dry mouth or even excessive salivation.
Actual reviews from customers
“Well, received it quite a while ago and been using it every night. My wife said from the first night I stopped snoring, however, it was really bad one or two nights. I checked and it was the nights I was really really tired. Even my wife said she could not wake me at the time. But since then I basically stopped snoring, and my sleeping has improved as well. It takes a bit of getting used to the first week or so; slightly sore jaw, excessive drooling, and just basically getting used to sleeping with something in my mouth. That went away soon after and now I don’t even notice it anymore. Very glad I made the purchase. Can definitely recommend it. My wife is happy, too” –Shabeer Fathul (Does it really work)
“The most amazing product out there on the market! Don’t believe any imposers, this is the best product out there! As a very frustrated wife I’ve been through them all! And I can tell you nothing comes close to Ripsnore! You have saved not only our marriage but our bedroom life! 😉 Don’t think twice about purchasing this! My husband and I are regular customers now! And couldn’t be happier!” -Kirby Shannon (Youtube)
“Up until about 6 weeks ago I was using the RipSnore device every night which worked fairly well, it stopped me snoring as loud but it drove me round the bend, as I wear dentures I couldn’t get a perfect fit and it would sometimes come out during the night and I would snore” -KeefG (British Snoring)
Price tag
Ripsnore offers two of their devices for $67 with no additional charges for shipping. When broken down individually, the overall cost is just under $35 per unit. At $35, this is on the lower end of the price spectrum when compared others.
Is it worth the money?
Before giving my recommendation, I would like to begin by giving my off-topic opinion of the product name.
The “RIP” portion of Ripsnore is a commonly known acronym for “rest in peace” – a term used to wish eternal rest upon one who has died. While completely unrelated to the result of using the device, the creator could have used a better choice of words while naming his product.
As for the performance of the device, several hundred reviewers are reporting success when it comes to eliminating snoring. Most have positive results the first night and continue to use the product. Personally, I had an overall good experience using this product.
The ability to create a customized fit in your home is always a plus as is having the ability to breathe through the mouth. Unfortunately, the omission of air holes is a design flaw commonly seen in several snoring mouthguards today. They have taken it one step further by creating additional holes to ensure adequate airflow and prevent the train whistle sound.
At $35 per unit, the Ripsnore provides unsurpassed value when compared its competitors. Unfortunately, the manufacturer forces you to purchase two at a time. With 2 snorers in a household this can actually be a plus but if you are snoring solo, having 2 may not be desired.
Having the ability to last 18 months or more is desirable. When it comes to longevity, this oral appliance excels as many others only last a few months.
The inventor has the necessary credentials to create such a device with a rich family history in the dental industry and a background in engineering. Ripsnore seems to be a solid product that has proven itself by having several satisfied customers.
I would consider this device a base model economy oral appliance which is affordable and effective. If you are willing to spend a little more money and are interested in a less bulky device, there are others available. One alternative that I really favor is the Zquiet. There are several reasons why this has become one of the favorite devices to treat my simple snoring. First, unlike many OTC mandibular advancement devices, it’s compact, taking up very little room inside your mouth. In addition, it works straight out of the box and does not need to be fitted. Also, you can speak and even sip water with the device in your mouth. I’ve posted a product review which goes into further detail if you are interested in learning more. This is an A+ product in my opinion and should be considered by anyone who is in the market for a comfortable yet effective device to control snoring.
Which mouthpiece should I buy?
The anti-snoring mouthpiece is one of the most highly effective stop snoring solutions available. With over 100 different products to choose from, deciding which one to buy can be challenging.
As a snorer and product reviewer, I have tried many of these devices and created a list of recommended devices that will help to make this decision much easier.
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