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.