SleepTight Mouthpiece Review: Is it Worth the Hype?

This article is medically reviewed and edited by Dr. Doaa Attia, MD, Internal Medicine Physician.

I’ve been snoring for a long time, but it got worse after I suffered an athletic injury that left me with a deviated septum.

Not only did it put me through physical pain as well as emotional turmoil, but it also meant that some of the most popular anti-snoring products didn’t work for me.

Designed by a dentist who used to snore, the SleepTight has been custom-made for its demographic.

They weren’t designed for mouth breathers, or they weren’t effective at dealing with the kind of airway obstruction that happened to me at night.

Finding the SleepTight was like stumbling on a miracle. Though it isn’t a flawless product, it works so well despite my nasal issues that it’s hard for me not to get a little excited as I talk about it.

Using the SleepTight (And Not Letting the Bed Bugs Bite)

Please pardon my excitement about this SleepTight review. I’m just buzzing to share this anti-snoring solution that actually works, especially for folks like us with deviated septums.

The Truth Behind Snoring

You know how sometimes people start snoring without any reason? Well, actually there’s a pretty simple explanation for it. When you’re snoozing away, your throat muscles get so relaxed that they can kind of get in the way of your breathing. And guess what? Your tongue can also roll back towards your throat and make this air passageway even tinier.

So when the oxygen has to struggle a bit to get through, it ends up vibrating against your tissue and makes that classic snoring sound.

Now, you might be thinking: “Cool, so I’ll just keep my airway open at night.” But here’s the thing – you’re asleep! You can’t control those chillaxed throat muscles.

That’s where something like SleepTight comes into play…

How It Works

The SleepTight is a mandibular advancement device (MAD) that holds your jaw at a certain angle while you sleep. Even when your throat expands, your airway will remain open because of the “advanced” position of your jaw and chin.

There are many MADs on the market, and they all function the same way. The concept is pretty common, but SleepTight is unique for a bunch of reasons.

First off, it’s designed by an actual dentist – Dr. Mike Williams. He’s even part of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.

What makes him really special though is that he knows what it feels like to have snoring issues because he had them himself! He tried fixing it with surgery and everything, but no dice until he started designing his own solutions – and boom! SleepTight was born.

The great thing about SleepTight is how you can fit and customize it unlike other MADs. Plus, it lasts way longer than most similar products. To top it off, it doesn’t look like some alien contraption – it’s sleeker and less clunky than other mouthpieces out there.

Long story short, there’s a lot of reasons to love the SleepTight. Let’s talk about them one at a time.

Design

The SleepTight is a mouthpiece that you put between your lips and over your teeth to wear overnight. As a former athlete, I found it a bit like a gametime mouth guard, but your experience might be different.

The SleepTight is made with a special kind of double-laminate plastic that makes it much sturdier than the competition. This is especially remarkable since it’s also a “boil and bite” product that can be softened with hot water to customize its fit, but I’ll get to that in a minute. For now, rest assured that it’s a comfortable and flexible solution.

Another great thing about the SleepTight is that it offers a wide range of motion. Some anti-snoring mouthpieces are so rigid that you can’t talk or drink water while you’re wearing them, but the SleepTight isn’t like that.

It’s designed with a six-millimeter airway opening that will accommodate any kind of talking, breathing, drinking or swallowing. I don’t think a straw will fit, but drinking from a glass was no problem at all.

I’d also be remiss if I didn’t talk about the attractive nature of the SleepTight design. While other MADs can look almost like children’s toys with their bulky pieces and searingly bright colors (looking at you, Zyppah!), the SleepTight is much more sleek and sophisticated.

It’s both compact and discreet. It’s transparent, so it won’t be an eyesore. It’s even designed as a single, streamlined mouthpiece instead of having upper and lower jaw trays clumsily stuck together – and prone to falling apart.

If you’re seeking a snoring solution that won’t be as embarrassing as the snoring itself, SleepTight is what you need.

How the SleepTight Mouthpiece Fits

One of the best features of the SleepTight is its ability to be customized to the exact shape of your mouth. Instead of having a sore jaw thanks to a “one size fits all” mouthpiece, you can mold the SleepTight to fit every single tooth.

It’s called the “boil and bite” method, and here’s how you do it properly:

1. Boil a cup of water. Let it sit for a minute so that it’s still hot but not actively bubbling.
2. Submerge the mouthpiece under the water. It will try to float to the surface, so keep it held down with a fork or a pair of tongs.
3. Remove the product from the water after 50-60 seconds. It should feel soft and malleable.
4. Put the product between your lips and bite down. Hold this pose for another 60 seconds.
5. There should be a nice impression of your teeth in the mouthpiece.

If you’re satisfied with it, rinse it under cold water to re-harden the material and set the impression. If you don’t like the way that it turned out, put the mouthpiece back in the hot water and try again.

A nice thing about the SleepTight is that you can repeat this process four or five times before the material starts to degrade. Other “boil and bite” products limit you to 2-3 attempts, but thanks to the double laminate material of the SleepTight, it can be manipulated for longer periods of time before it starts to break down.

All of this translates to a mouthpiece that can be customized until it’s truly perfect for you.

Does This Mouthpiece Have Flaws?

I’ve spent a lot of time talking about the advantages of the SleepTight. In the interest of fairness, let me share some of its disadvantages as well.

Its biggest problem is one that plagues many anti-snoring mouthpieces: excess salivation. Some people are more affected than others, so it’s not a given thing that the SleepTight will make you drool, but it’s something to consider.

Another issue is long-term maintenance. The SleepTight needs to be cleaned every morning after use.

I rinse mine thoroughly upon taking it out of my mouth, storing it in a case. And every third morning, I drop it into a cup with an Efferdent tablet and let it soak until the evening.

While you should do this with any mouthpiece thanks to the lingering effects of oral bacteria on plastic materials, it’s especially critical for the transparent SleepTight. You can’t hide anything with its see-through design.

The transparency can also cause staining problems if you don’t clean the SleepTight correctly. It’s hard to imagaine the Efferdent not getting everything off, but you can certainly use a toothbrush for extra care.

It’s recommended that you don’t use toothpaste or mouthwash, especially the kind that’s been artificially colored; it might leech into the plastic over time.

I don’t mean to make the cleaning issue sound like a huge inconvenience. It’s only added about two minutes to my overall morning routine.

However, it’s something to think about if you’re a particularly busy or lazy person. If you already know that you tend to slack off with these kinds of things, the upkeep required by the SleepTight might be too much for you.

Pros and Cons

Are you still wondering if the SleepTight is right for you? Here’s a straightforward list of pros and cons.

The Good

• Attractive design
• Comfortable and flexible materials
• “Boil and bite” method allows for a customized fit
• Can be re-adjusted multiple times
• Lasts much longer than some MADs
• Will accommodate any sleep position
• Free trial period

The Bad

• Might cause drooling (especially in those first few uses)
• Requires cleaning after every use

Final Verdict

I love the SleepTight. It was designed by a dentist to be an extremely comfortable mouthpiece, and you can see that professional-level care and attention to detail in every aspect of its construction.

It has a wide range of motion. It can be customized to create an exact impression of your teeth. It works with all sleep positions, and it allows for a lot of flexibility in terms of drinking, breathing and swallowing.

It isn’t a flawless product. Maintenance will be an issue, especially for people on the go.

All things considered, however, the SleepTight is such a great product that I have no problem recommending it to others. It’s attractive both inside and out. Try it for free and see if you like it, too!

Frequently Asked Questions 

With so many different reviews for the SleepTight out there, it can be hard to track down specific details and specs, so I’ve put together a little FAQ to address any questions that my readers might have. I hope it helps!

Other Snoring Mouthpiece Reviews from SnoreMentor:

• ZQuiet Snoring Mouthpiece Review
• Best Anti Snoring Pillows
• Good Morning Snore Solution Review
• VitalSleep Mouthpiece Review
• Zyppah Snoring Mouthpiece Review
• SnoreRx Review