One aspect of the present disclosure relates to an oropharynx appliance that includes passive tongue retention structure (12) having an end portion (16) adapted to prevent a pharyngeal portion of a tongue of a subject from collapsing; and at least one anchoring structure (14, 148) that is connected to the passive tongue retention structure and adapted to secure the passive tongue retention structure to at least one tooth/mandible of the subject in a removable fashion. The passive tongue retention structure is sized and dimensioned so that the end portion prevents the posterior pharyngeal portion of the tongue from obstructing an oropharynx during sleep, without triggering a gag reflex, while still permitting the tongue to move during swallowing.