Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsThe DeviceWho It’s ForHow to UsePossible ProblemsCare and Cleaning
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
The Device
Who It’s For
How to Use
Possible Problems
Care and Cleaning
This article describes how a tongue stabilizing device works for sleep apnea, who it may be appropriate for, how to use one, and possible issues with using this appliance.
Brandon Peters, M.D.
What Is a Tongue Stabilizing Device?
A TSD is a small piece of plastic that sits at your lips and resembles a large pacifier with a hole into which you can insert your tongue.
When placed in the mouth, it can hold your tongue forward, which might alleviate snoring or sleep apnea that occurs with an obstructed airway.
Two of the popular models are the AveoTSD and Good Morning Snore Solution devices.
Treatments for OSA are aimed at opening the airway to prevent snoring and maintain oxygen levels. The goal is to avoid waking episodes and to feel more rested throughout the day. OSA is also known to cause manyhealth complications.
Who Might Use a TSD (and Who Shouldn’t)
You might consider using a tongue stabilizing device if you:
How to Use a Tongue Stabilizing Device
A tongue stabilizing device must be rinsed with hot water before it is applied to your tongue. This will make the plastic more flexible and the fit more secure.
To use it, place the device in your mouth every night before sleeping and remove it in the morning when you wake up.
Possible Problems With Tongue Stabilizing Devices
The tongue stabilizing device isn’t always effective and it can have some side effects.
Issues that some users report include:
If you have difficulty breathing with the device in place, you should not use it.
Care and Cleaning of a TSD
It is very important that you clean your TSD every day with hot water to prevent infection and minimize unpleasant odors. You may find it helpful to clean it with a denture-cleaning solution on a weekly or monthly basis.
You should not clean your tongue stabilizing device with mouthwash that contains alcohol, as it may dry out the plastic and damage the appliance.
When you are not using your device, store it in a cool and dry environment within its container.
A Word From Verywell
If treating your snoring and sleep apnea with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) isn’t working for you, you may be looking for another option.
Sleep Apnea Devices That Work
3 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Pavwoski P, Shelgikar AV.Treatment options for obstructive sleep apnea.Neurol Clin Pract. 2017;7(1):77-85. doi:10.1212/CPJ.0000000000000320Alshhrani WM, Kohzuka Y, Okuno K, Hamoda MM, Fleetham JA, Almeida FR.Compliance and side effects of tongue stabilizing device in patients with obstructive sleep apnea.Cranio. 2021 Apr 25:1-14. doi:10.1080/08869634.2021.1917900Alshhrani WM, Hamoda MM, Okuno K, Kohzuka Y, Fleetham JA, Ayas NT, Comey R, Almeida FR.The efficacy of a titrated tongue-stabilizing device on obstructive sleep apnea: a quasi-experimental study.J Clin Sleep Med. 2021 Aug 1;17(8):1607-1618. doi:10.5664/jcsm.9260
3 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Pavwoski P, Shelgikar AV.Treatment options for obstructive sleep apnea.Neurol Clin Pract. 2017;7(1):77-85. doi:10.1212/CPJ.0000000000000320Alshhrani WM, Kohzuka Y, Okuno K, Hamoda MM, Fleetham JA, Almeida FR.Compliance and side effects of tongue stabilizing device in patients with obstructive sleep apnea.Cranio. 2021 Apr 25:1-14. doi:10.1080/08869634.2021.1917900Alshhrani WM, Hamoda MM, Okuno K, Kohzuka Y, Fleetham JA, Ayas NT, Comey R, Almeida FR.The efficacy of a titrated tongue-stabilizing device on obstructive sleep apnea: a quasi-experimental study.J Clin Sleep Med. 2021 Aug 1;17(8):1607-1618. doi:10.5664/jcsm.9260
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Pavwoski P, Shelgikar AV.Treatment options for obstructive sleep apnea.Neurol Clin Pract. 2017;7(1):77-85. doi:10.1212/CPJ.0000000000000320Alshhrani WM, Kohzuka Y, Okuno K, Hamoda MM, Fleetham JA, Almeida FR.Compliance and side effects of tongue stabilizing device in patients with obstructive sleep apnea.Cranio. 2021 Apr 25:1-14. doi:10.1080/08869634.2021.1917900Alshhrani WM, Hamoda MM, Okuno K, Kohzuka Y, Fleetham JA, Ayas NT, Comey R, Almeida FR.The efficacy of a titrated tongue-stabilizing device on obstructive sleep apnea: a quasi-experimental study.J Clin Sleep Med. 2021 Aug 1;17(8):1607-1618. doi:10.5664/jcsm.9260
Pavwoski P, Shelgikar AV.Treatment options for obstructive sleep apnea.Neurol Clin Pract. 2017;7(1):77-85. doi:10.1212/CPJ.0000000000000320
Alshhrani WM, Kohzuka Y, Okuno K, Hamoda MM, Fleetham JA, Almeida FR.Compliance and side effects of tongue stabilizing device in patients with obstructive sleep apnea.Cranio. 2021 Apr 25:1-14. doi:10.1080/08869634.2021.1917900
Alshhrani WM, Hamoda MM, Okuno K, Kohzuka Y, Fleetham JA, Ayas NT, Comey R, Almeida FR.The efficacy of a titrated tongue-stabilizing device on obstructive sleep apnea: a quasi-experimental study.J Clin Sleep Med. 2021 Aug 1;17(8):1607-1618. doi:10.5664/jcsm.9260
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