Sleep apnea mouth guards to treat sleep apnea

In cases of sleep apnea, spouses can suffer almost as much as the snorer. The noise can be far louder than the volume level of normal conversation, making sleep impossible for some. And the effects of sleep apnea don't end at daybreak. Constant low quality sleep contributes to daytime sleepiness and lack of alertness, which can result in accidents on the job or while commuting. And if sleep apnea is severe enough, it can be life threatening. So if you snore and occasionally stop breathing at night, you need to seek medical help.

Sleep apnea is a condition where a person actually stops breathing for periods of a few seconds at a time during sleep. Usually the person startles awake, starts breathing again, and goes back to sleep. But the cycle can repeat itself all night, and all those small interruptions to sleep add up.

While there are high tech machines that can be used to treat sleep apnea, doctors usually start out with simpler measures that are less expensive. One common approach that doctors try is that of a sleep apnea mouth guard. These are normally custom fitted mouth appliances that reposition the jaw slightly and / or keep the tongue from relaxing against the back of the mouth.

While you can get over the counter sleep apnea mouth guards that can be custom molded to some extent, with sleep apnea, doctors may want to go straight to a customized appliance made by a dental laboratory so that it will fit properly and be comfortable enough that the snorer won't abandon it.

Over the counter sleep apnea mouth guards may be worth trying for people who do not have sleep apnea and for whom simple remedies like nasal strips that hold the nostrils open don't work. Typically these are made of a special plastic that is placed in hot water for softening. Once the device has cooled to the proper temperature, the user places it in his or her mouth and bites down to customize the fit to some extent.

When the plastic cools completely, it should retain the shape of the user's teeth. The fit with these mouth guards is generally not as comfortable as that from a custom made dental appliance, but it may be worth trying for some to see if it provides relief. If so, a custom one can be made by a dentist for greater comfort if necessary.

Sleep apnea mouth guard

The sleep apnea mouth guard is a device that looks a little like the gum shields that are worn in many sports, but these devices are designed to reduce or prevent the dangerous apnea episodes experienced as part of the apnea condition.


During sleep, the soft tissues of the throat and soft palate can become overly relaxed. In the apnea sufferer, this can result in the tissues collapsing and partially or totally blocking the airway. This cause the sleeper to cease breathing for a short period of time.


Many a snorer and obstructive sleep apnea sufferer have found a great source of relief from their conditions with a sleep apnea mouth guard. These simple dental devices are found in pharmacies and online at store like Amazon for only a few dollars. If you want a bespoke dentist made one, expect to pay several hundred dollars.

An apnea episode has a number of definitions, but a pause in breathing for 10 seconds or more is one of the definable outcomes. Many sufferers hold their breath for up to 20 seconds, and may do this dozens of times during the night, having a profound effect on their physiology.

The sleep apnea mouth guard works by holding the lower jaw forward slightly, a little similar to the recovery position first aid. This maximises the chances of the airway remaining open. Many of these devices also feature a tongue retaining device that holds the tongue in it's normal position so that it does not slip back and add to the blockage.

Many people have good success rates with these devices, and there are now many manufacturers offering a range of mouthpieces for the sufferer. It's always worth checking out some of the reviews from current users, or read our detailed reviews on our No 1 ranking apnea and snoring website.