Sleep apnea is a condition where a person actually stops breathing for periods of a few seconds at a time during sleep. Usually the person startles awake, starts breathing again, and goes back to sleep. But the cycle can repeat itself all night, and all those small interruptions to sleep add up.

In cases of sleep apnea, spouses can suffer almost as much as the snorer. The noise can be far louder than the volume level of normal conversation, making sleep impossible for some. And the effects of sleep apnea don't end at daybreak. Constant low-quality sleep contributes to daytime sleepiness and lack of alertness, which can result in accidents on the job or while commuting. And if sleep apnea is severe enough, it can be life threatening. So if you snore and occasionally stop breathing at night, you need to seek medical help.

While there are high-tech machines that can be used to treat sleep apnea, doctors usually start out with simpler measures that are less expensive. One common approach that doctors try is that of a snore stop mouth guard. These are normally custom fitted mouth appliances that reposition the jaw slightly and / or keep the tongue from relaxing against the back of the mouth.

While you can get over-the-counter snore stop mouth guards that can be custom molded to some extent, with sleep apnea, doctors may want to go straight to a customized appliance made by a dental laboratory so that it will fit properly and be comfortable enough that the snorer won't abandon it.

Over-the-counter snore stop mouth guards may be worth trying for people who do not have sleep apnea and for whom simple remedies like nasal strips that hold the nostrils open don't work. Typically these are made of a special plastic that is placed in hot water for softening. Once the device has cooled to the proper temperature, the user places it in his or her mouth and bites down to customize the fit to some extent.

When the plastic cools completely, it should retain the shape of the user's teeth. The fit with these mouth guards is generally not as comfortable as that from a custom made dental appliance, but it may be worth trying for some to see if it provides relief. If so, a custom one can be made by a dentist for greater comfort if necessary.

About the author: Jim Volva is a snoring stop expert. Visit his website for more great info on snore stop mouth guard.