Who makes mouthpieces for smaller mouths?
Lately, I have received several emails from my readers concerning snoring mouthpieces that are simply too large to fit comfortably into their mouth. They are curious to know if a smaller, more compact alternative is available. Up until recently, most manufacturers have failed to address this size issue. The majority are still offering a “one-size-fits-all” solution when it comes to mandibular advancement devices. As we all know, people come in all different shapes and sizes and by offering a one-size solution, a certain segment of buyers are sure to run into issues when it comes to fitting and using their mouthpiece.
So what (if any) alternatives are available to those who have a smaller mouth structure? Are there any mouthpieces out there that are specifically made for those who have smaller mouths? Luckily, there are a few available options.
AveoTSD & GMSS (Tongue Stabilizing Devices)
While technically still a one-size-fits-all solution, the Tongue Stabilizing Devices (TSD’s) has recently gained a lot of attention because it’s easy to use and effective. This product can be used by people with any sized mouth. AveoTSD and the Good Morning Snore Solution (GMSS) are currently the only two companies who manufacture and sell these products. The AveoTSD is available through your dentist by prescription only while the GMSS can be purchased online without the need to see a dentist.
What makes these products ideal for people with small mouths? In order to answer this question, it’s important to have a basic understanding of the difference between a TSD and a traditional mouthpiece, or Mandibular Advancement Device (MAD).
AveoTSD (left) and GMSS (right) are two Tongue stabilizing devices that work well with small mouths
Most mouthpieces that are used to prevent snoring can be classified as MAD’s. Traditional MADS are tried-and-true with over three decades of medical research to support their claims of effectiveness against snoring. They contain an upper and lower tray that is molded around the teeth to create a custom impression. The lower tray is set slightly in front of the upper, causing the jaw to remain forward while asleep. The forward position of the jaw tightens the muscles around the airway, creating a clear passage for air to travel. With a clear airway, the sound of snoring is often eliminated or greatly reduced.
The TSD somewhat resembles a pacifier and attaches to the tip of the tongue via suction, holding the tongue forward. The tongue forward action also tightens the muscles around the airway while offering the added benefit of keeping the tongue from falling back into the airway. There are also numerous medical studies that confirm the effectiveness of this product.
Because a TSD fits only on the tip of the tongue and not completely inside of the mouth or around all of the teeth, there are no teeth trays to contend with. This makes it ideal for individuals with any mouth/jaw structure, whether it’s small, medium, or large.
I have tested the GMSS and can vouch for its effectiveness. Here’s my review of this product if you are interested.
Unfortunately, if you are on a budget, you might find this product to be quite expensive with a price tag of around $100.
If you are not ready to drop $100 on the Good Morning Snore, there is one product I was able to locate which addresses the sizing issue by offering standard MADs with a sizing option at a very reasonable price. The product is called SnoreMeds and it is available in two different sizes and can be purchased in bulk which helps to reduce the overall price.
SnoreMeds offers sizing options
The SnoreMeds is available in two sizes, original fit, and small fit
It wasn’t until recently that I discovered the Snoremeds which is one of the only products that is offered with a sizing option. When ordering, you can choose between what they refer to as the “Women’s size” (small) and the “Men’s size” (regular). According to the companies blog page, they began to offer two size options in response to several requests from their customers.
The SnoreMeds is a very simple boil and bite style mouthpiece with two fairly decent size breather holes which allow air to enter and exit the mouth. This is the same style product that is offered by manufacturers such as the RipSnore, Puresleep, SleepTight, SnoreDoc and several others. While the air hole size often differs slightly between each device, they are all nearly identical to each other when it comes to design and function.
Each is placed into hot water for several seconds and then inserted into the mouth while pushing the jaw out slightly to create a custom impression which is used to keep the jaw forward while sleeping.
As mentioned, the SnoreMeds is the only product that is offered in a smaller size as well as a regular size. Best of all, it’s perhaps one of the least expensive MAD’s on the market when you choose the value pack which consists of four units. Why would you need four? Perhaps both you and your partner both snore. Maybe you would like to use one and give the others out as gifts. Another reason is that these mouthpieces usually have a useful life of less than a year and will eventually have to be replaced.
This is yet another product that I have used and can tell you that it works well. Here’s my review of this product which contains more information.
How do I know what size to get?
If you are interested in the SnoreMeds, you may be wondering which size to go with, the “small” or the “regular”. The producer of this product suggests that women may want to go with the small size while men might want to choose the large size.
While it’s very easy to make such generalizations based on gender, a better practice is to take into consideration the structure of your mouth. Personally, I have a fairly large mouth so the decision has always been simple. While it may be the case that most women have smaller mouths in comparison to most men, this is not always true and vice versa when it comes to men.
There’s really no sizing chart, which simply makes the decision an educated guess. Do you consider your mouth to be small, large, or somewhere in between? For large and somewhere in between, I would simply go with the “regular” fit. If your mouth is undoubtedly small, the small size would likely better suit your needs. According to the Snoremeds website, each product comes with a 45-day money back guarantee so if you guess wrong, returning or exchanging is always an option.
The vast majority of people will do just fine with any of the standard or regular size anti-snoring products that are available. If you happen to have a smaller than average mouth, I would recommend using a TSD such as the GMSS or AveoTSD or a small size MAD such as the one offered by Snoremeds.
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