How Do Sleep Apnea Devices Work?
Sleep apnea is caused by the muscles in the mouth relaxing too much, causing an obstruction in your airway. This leads to breathing problems and disturbed sleep. Sleep apnea devices reposition your jaw or tongue, keeping your airways open so you can breathe easily.
Common Sleep Apnea Devices
There are two types of sleep apnea devices that your dentist may recommend. The first is a mandibular advancement device (MAD), which fits over your top and bottom teeth like a mouthguard and gently eases your lower jaw forward. The second is a tongue-retaining device, which holds the tongue in place to keep the airways open.