Zyppah

Chronic snoring causes lots of problems, not only for the sufferer but for anyone who has to share a bedroom with them.

Zyppah is an anti-snoring device that claims to address the root cause of your nightly breathing problems—a tongue that gets in the way. The company claims that Zyppah is the only anti-snoring device to include a tongue strap, which prevents it from blocking your airway as you sleep.

Learn from our analysis whether the Zyppah makes sense for you.

How Does Zyppah Work?

The Zyppah is a mandibular adjustment device (MAD) that purportedly works as a “seatbelt for your tongue” to keep it from blocking your airways as you sleep.

Zyppah will pull your lower jaw forward and hold your tongue down so that it is easier to breathe and you snore less. Zyppah can fit in your mouth in any position, though the company states that it works best for reducing snoring when you sleep on your side.

One clinical study of Zyppah’s effectiveness found that it was 91% effective for improving their snoring after ten consecutive nights of use.

How to Use It

Before you use Zyppah, you will first need to heat two quarts of water to just before boiling and pour it into a microwave-safe container that is deep enough to submerge the Zyppah.

Using kitchen tongs, immerse the Zyppah in the water and let it soak, fully submerged, for 30–45 seconds. Carefully remove it, and wait for 5–10 seconds for it to cool slightly.

You will then press the Zyppah into your lower teeth with your fingers, moving your lower jaw to align it with your upper teeth. Bite down and hold in place for a minute, ensuring that your tongue is under the elastic band.

After the imprint is made, remove the Zyppah and rinse it under cold water for 30 seconds to set. You may need to repeat the molding process up to three additional times to get a better fit.

Using the Zyppah for the first time might take some adjustment. You will likely have a slight gagging feeling when you begin using it that can trigger excessive saliva production.

The company suggests sleeping with a towel near your head for the first few nights to address this problem before you adjust to using it.

After a night of use, clean your Zyppah with the brand’s Zyppah Clean antibacterial cleaning solution, water, or mouthwash, and let it dry.

As each Zyppah device is custom-fit to the individual, it shouldn’t be shared between people. Assuming regular use, your Zyppah should be replaced every three or four months. Those who grind their teeth may need to replace it more often.

Safety Precautions

Though Zyppah addresses the symptoms of snoring, it won’t affect the root cause of why you snore in the first place. For this reason, it’s essential to be cautious before starting to use it so you don’t worsen any health problems.

Zyppah is not designed for anyone under 18, and those who have been diagnosed with a respiratory disorder like asthma or sleep apnea shouldn’t use Zyppah unless their doctor first approves it.

The device shouldn’t be used by people who suffer from TMJ because it may cause further irritation.

It also may pose a challenge for those with dentures because it may fall out while you sleep unless you wear a chin strap to keep your mouth closed.

Zyppah can reduce the damage to your teeth caused by bruxism, though you will likely need to replace the device more often because you will wear it down faster by grinding.

If, after using Zyppah, you notice persistent pain, a change to your bite, or that your teeth have moved, stop using it immediately and get in touch with your doctor.

If using the Zyppah makes it hard to breathe or triggers your gag reflex, the company suggests using nasal strips when you wear it so that your airways stay open.

You might also need to ease into the device by only wearing it for a few minutes at a time for the first few nights. In some cases, it might take up to six weeks to adjust to using Zyppah all night long.

Pricing

Zyppah is priced at $99.95 per device, plus $9.95 for standard shipping. It’s also available on Amazon for the same price and free shipping.

Once you make an initial Zyppah purchase, you will save $20 on your next device so long as you order it within six months of your original purchase date.

Zyppah devices are guaranteed for 90-days. If Zyppah doesn’t work for you, you can request a Return Merchandise Authorization form from the company by contacting customer service. The company will refund your full payment once it receives your return.

Analysis of Customer Reviews

22 customers reviewed Zyppah on our website, for a combined rating of 2-stars. On Amazon, Zyppah has more than 550 reviews, and they average 2.7 stars.

Common Compliments:

• Works when it stays in place
• Reduces snoring as described
• Great for couples disturbed by the other’s snoring
• Easy to adjust for a better fit

Common Complaints:

• Only works if you keep your mouth shut while you sleep
• Moldable mouth jars may work as well for less money
• Cheaply made, didn’t last long
• Trays aren’t deep enough for teeth to keep in place
• Triggers the gag reflux when worn
• Painful for front teeth

Popular Alternatives to Zyppah

Zyppah claims to be the only oral appliance for snoring that keeps your tongue from disrupting your sleep. Does it stand out from other anti-snoring devices? We chose to make a comparison to two Amazon bestsellers, PureSleep and Z Quiet, to find out.

Zyppah costs more, needs to be replaced more often, and has lower-rated reviews on average than these other two other devices. However, Zyppah does have one key selling point that the other two don’t—it claims to keep your tongue under control.

Is this feature worth the extra cost and inconvenience of frequent replacement? Customer reviews seem mixed. Many wrote that the tongue strap made them feel gagged and that they returned Zyppah for a competing product. Others noted that it dried their tongue out and even irritated it to the point it was getting cut up in their mouths.

However, many found the tongue guard to be an essential feature that stopped their snoring and helped them sleep better. For those users, Zyppah was worth the extra cost.

Can you tell whether your tongue is interfering with your breathing at night? It turns out there is a correlation between your body weight and tongue size, and that a fatty tongue is more likely to lead to snoring.

A 2009 study found that those with higher BMIs are more likely to accumulate fat in their tongues, which may raise the risk of suffering from sleep apnea and other respiratory problems. Maintaining a healthy weight, in contrast, may reduce your chances of snoring by making it less likely your tongue will block your airway.

So, if you believe your snoring is caused by sleep apnea and you are heavier than ideal, restricting your tongue might soothe your symptoms. Keep in mind, though, that you need to talk with your doctor first before using it.

The Bottom Line

Zyppah claims to combat snoring better than other mandibular adjustment devices by suppressing your tongue. While this device will likely work for many people, it’s important to keep in mind that it doesn’t address the reasons you are snoring in the first place and will only act as a temporary aid to stop it.

Users offer mixed opinions on whether they like the tongue suppression. Some find that it works better than any MAD alternative, while others find it uncomfortable to the point that they stopped using the device.

If you do try Zyppah, keep in mind that you will need to replace the device every 3–4 months, for a cost of approximately $340 per year after discounts. For that price, you might want to try an alternative like the PureSleep mouthpiece, which works much the same way, costs $40 less per device, and should last up to a year before replacement.