An oral appliance is worn in your mouth as you sleep. It is used to move the jaw forward or hold the mouth open and helps reduce snoring or grinding of the teeth while you sleep. It is made of soft plastic and fits over your teeth like a sports mouth guard.

How do you know if you need an oral appliance? Here are some guidelines, courtesy of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine:

- People with bruxism may wear one to protect their teeth
- Some oral appliances are made to help reduce your snoring
- Others have been shown to help ease obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Patients may be asked to try an oral appliance if for some reason they cannot use positive airway pressure (PAP).

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