Best Devices for Sleep Apnea

If you struggle with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), you can suffer from a range of symptoms that affect your overall well-being. Your Dentist can help diagnose OSA and treat it with custom-made oral appliances that provide non-invasive correction to improve your breathing and your long-term health.

What Is Sleep Apnea?

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) occurs when your soft palate, uvula, tongue, tonsils, and throat muscles collapse while you sleep. When this happens, it narrows your air passageway and prevents adequate breathing, causing you to gasp for air and briefly awaken at different times throughout the night. 

Most sufferers do not remember these awakenings. Instead, they wake up feeling exhausted despite what they believe was a full night’s sleep. When sleep apnea is left untreated, it can begin to affect your daily life. Excessive daytime fatigue may eventually affect your job, relationships, and overall quality of life.

Meanwhile, as your throat muscles relax through the night, your jaw may clench in an attempt to prevent this from happening. Over time, this can lead to bruxism (jaw clenching and teeth grinding) and TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorder. Other serious health conditions that could develop include high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.

Sleep Apnea Risk Factors

You may face an increased risk of developing sleep apnea if you:

• Are male
• Are overweight
• Have a family member with sleep apnea
• Smoke or drink heavily
• Are over the age of 60
• Have a large neck circumference or narrow nasal passageways

Of course, you may have sleep apnea even if you do not fall within one of the categories listed above.

Symptoms of Sleep Apnea

One of the more common signs of sleep apnea is loud snoring, but other symptoms include:

• Chronic exhaustion
• Dry or sore throat, especially in the mornings
• Trouble focusing and concentrating
• Anxiety or depression
• Frequent headaches

If you suffer from any of the symptoms listed above, it is important to ask your dentist whether a sleep apnea device could benefit you!

Sleep Apnea Diagnosis and Treatment

If you have been told that you snore excessively, or if you are experiencing constant drowsiness and daytime irritability, you may be suffering from sleep apnea. Many dentists offer nonsurgical treatment for sleep apnea at their dental practice to help you have a better night’s sleep. 

They also provide customized night guards that can be worn to help keep your airways open at night, allowing you to breathe comfortably and achieve quality rest.

Customized Sleep Apnea Treatment

Treating sleep apnea can help you experience a better night’s sleep, give you more energy, and improve your health. Your dentist can provide you with a customized oral appliance to be worn at night. These night guards fit comfortably over your teeth, much like Invisalign trays, and are designed to keep your lower jaw positioned in a way that prevents blockage of the airways.

For moderate to severe cases, your dentist may recommend that you visit a sleep specialist who can provide you with a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine. This involves wearing a mask over your nose and mouth that pumps pressurized air through your passageways to help you breathe easier and more effectively. If oral appliances and CPAP machinery do not work for you, surgery may be recommended.

Fortunately, several sleep apnea devices can be used in the comfort of your own home to help with mild cases of obstructive sleep apnea. Listed below are 5 of the best sleep apnea devices in 2021.

1. Neomen Professional Dental Guard

If you suffer from a mild case of sleep apnea, the Neoman Professional Dental Guard may provide you with a great night’s sleep! This mouthguard ensures that your teeth and jaw are kept in an optimal position while you sleep, eliminating the potential for the muscles to relax and prevent adequate breathing.

This set comes with four mouthguards, allowing you to select the size that most comfortably fits your mouth. Remold your mouthguard in a matter of minutes to achieve the perfect fit every time.

Review:

We love this product. Bought it for my husband to help with snoring, and grinding of his teeth. It took us 5 minutes to mold and worked that very first night. No more snoring, both of us are sleeping better now!

Rating

4.2 out of 5 stars

2. IntelliGuard Pro Dental Mouth Guard

Unlike other, more basic, mouthguards, the IntelliGuard Pro Dental Mouth Guard allows you to manually adjust the lower jaw forward. In most cases of sleep apnea, this is precisely what causes the throat muscles to relax, closing your airways.

Not only is this sleep apnea device comfortable and effective but it is made using non-toxic, hypo-allergenic materials. Breathe freely and enjoy a good night’s sleep once again!

Review:

I was surprised by how well this works. I have mild sleep apnea so my insurance wouldn’t pay for a CPAP machine. Decided to give this a try and my quality of sleep definitely improved. Give it a shot it’s worth the money!

Rating
★★★★★

3. ZQUIET Anti-Snoring Mouthpiece Solution

While marketed as an anti-snoring device, the ZQUIET Anti-Snoring Mouthpiece Solution works wonders for those suffering from mild sleep apnea! By stabilizing the jaw and advancing the lower jaw forward, this device helps maintain an open airway while you sleep.

This kit contains two sizes, allowing you to select a comfortable fit without the need for molding. With a thin design, this is one of the least restrictive sleep apnea devices available today!

Review:

I got a Mayo Clinic Newsletter article about sleep apnea and handed it to my partner, who is an outrageous snorer and has one or two seemingly near death loud choking incidents every night as well. He read the article and it recommended trying a device like this.

WOW, problem SOLVED, after years of losing sleep and being on the verge of sleeping in a separate room. It changes the angle of his jaw prevents him from suffocating in his sleep and he gets better rest as well, which is better for his overall health AND mine.

Rating
★★★★★

4. Tranquillam Super Sleep Bundle Pack

If you are just learning about devices to help with sleep apnea, you may not know which type of device works best for you. The Tranquillam Super Sleep Bundle Pack includes a mouth guard, nasal dilators, and a chin strap. This variety allows you to test several products to find which combination provides you with the greatest relief.

By ensuring proper positioning of your face and neck, the Tranquillam products eliminate obstructions that can cause difficulties breathing.

Review:

People snore because their airways are obstructed while they sleep and these devices all help in keeping the airways open to prevent snoring. Whether your snoring through your nose or your mouth, this sleep bundle has something for you.

If all three of these devices don’t work for you and you still find yourself snoring, then its time for a CPAP machine!

Rating
★★★★★

5. Anti-Snoring Silicone Tongue Sleeve

Perhaps the most bizarre form of sleep apnea device is an Anti-Snoring Silicone Tongue Sleeve. This product prevents your tongue from relaxing into the back of your mouth, obstructing the airway.

While it may seem quite odd at first, this type of sleep apnea device has helped countless individuals achieve safe and healthy sleep all night long!

Review:

I was recently diagnosed with sleep apnea and was prescribed a CPAP but I had an awful time getting used to wearing it. I bought this product and have stopped my snoring completely. It works great at keeping my soft palate from closing my throat (sleep apnea). It may not work for all types of sleep apnea, as there are different causes, but definitely worth a shot.

Rating
★★★★★