Abstract: A tongue retention device (1) for alleviating sleep apnea and other sleep maladies has a tooth-anchoring piece (12) that is positioned against the teeth (10) and a tab (2) having at least one aperture (3) for the acceptance of a tongue attachment device (9). To use the tongue retention device (1), a person places the anchoring piece (12) within his or her mouth. Then, he or she secures the attachment device (9), which may be tongue piercing or implant (13) located in the tongue (8), in the aperture (3) on the tab (2). Because the attachment device (9) is located in the tongue (8), the tongue (8) is maintained in a forward position such that it will not fall back into the throat of the wearer when the attachment device (9) is secured in the tab (2).