[matthewpick]

Depending on how severe your sleep apnea is, there are oral appliances that can help with mild to moderate cases of sleep apnea. Could be an alternative to a CPAP machine. It’s like wearing a bulky retainer at night.

That said, you’ll want to go to a dentist who specializes in sleep apnea and is able to test / fit the oral appliance properly. (Source: father is dentist who specializes in TMJ pain and sleep apnea).

[linsomniac]

I've heard they're about $3,500USD and aren't covered by insurance. For something that I'm unsure would solve the problem, it seems a bit much. If it were 1/10th the price, I would just try it.

Seems like the 3d scanning my kids had for their braces, plus 3D printing could make it less expensive, at least for a prototype device to just try.

I should try that "tape over the mouth" thing to see if it helps, particularly as I'm super mild apnea, but I'm expecting it won't really work with my beard.

[matthewpick]

That is correct on both counts: they’re a bit pricey and insurance won’t cover an oral appliance for sleep apnea, which is unfortunate!

I do tape over the mouth every night. It’s worth a try! I also wear an oral appliance to prevent teeth clenching at night which was a game changer for me in terms of jaw muscle inflammation (due to clenching).

Mouth taping is one thing my dad (dentist) recommends for people who snore. While I don’t snore or have sleep apnea, I do feel like I get a more restful sleep.