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Mouth Shield

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What is the Mouth Shield?

The idea of the Mouth Shield came from the idea of mouth taping with an easier more patient-friendly approach.

The TAP device advances the lower jaw to treat sleep apnea, while the silicone Mouth Shield seals the mouth to promote nasal breathing and reduce snoring.

The Mouth Shield makes TAP devices unique in actively promoting nasal breathing (unlike most oral appliances or even CPAP, which focus primarily on anatomy/collapsibility).

Why Nasal Breathing Matters

When you sleep with your mouth open, you’re missing out on one of your body’s best natural systems. Nasal breathing, especially at night, is much better for you than mouth breathing for several simple reasons:

Better oxygen and air quality:

Your nose serves as a built-in air filter, humidifier, and heater. It naturally produces a gas called nitric oxide, which helps widen blood vessels and improves oxygen delivery throughout your body. This keeps your airway more stable, boosts energy levels, and reduces daytime fatigue.

Heart and blood pressure support:

At rest, it can lower diastolic blood pressure, shift your nervous system toward “rest-and-digest” (parasympathetic) mode, and reduce perceived stress or exertion.

Calmer mind and reduced anxiety:

Slower breathing and nitric oxide effects can promote relaxation, better focus, and a calmer nervous system.

Improved sleep quality:

Nasal breathing lowers upper airway resistance, reduces snoring, and decreases obstructive sleep apnea events. It promotes deeper, more restorative sleep.

Proven Results

Dual Therapy: Mouth Shield + TAP Improves Oral, Cardiac, and Cognitive Health in OSA

This approach supports periodontal health, delivers promising acute improvements in cardiac electrophysiology and hemodynamics, and offers potential cognitive enhancements for patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and comorbidities such as paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) or cognitive concerns.

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Lin et al. (2025)

Effects of Oral Appliance Therapy with a Mouth Shield in Periodontitis Patients Who Snore: A Split-Mouth Randomized Controlled Trial

In 14 adults with mild-to-moderate periodontitis who snored and mouth-breathed, a 12-week split-mouth trial combined standard gum treatment with myTAP + Mouth Shield dual therapy. Results included significant reductions in snoring (p=0.011), mouth breathing (p=0.025), and respiratory disturbance index (p=0.019); improved gum health with less bleeding on probing and reduced Porphyromonas gingivalis (p=0.0135); and no short-term negative effects on gums or teeth—positioning the therapy as a safe adjunct that minimizes dry mouth and enhances the oral environment.

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Schramm et al. (2025)

Case Report: Combination oral appliance therapy acute influence on cardiac electrophysiology and hemodynamics in OSA patient with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation

A 67-year-old man with moderate OSA and recurring paroxysmal AF (who disliked CPAP) was studied comparing auto-adjusting positive airway pressure (APAP) to myTAP + Mouth Shield. Dual therapy yielded a 62% reduction in premature atrial contractions, improved cardiac conduction intervals, and enhanced vascular function —outperforming APAP acutely and suggesting promise for OSA patients with AF by addressing airway collapse and mouth breathing without mask issues.

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Schramm et al. (2021)

Snoring Remediation with Oral Appliance Therapy Potentially Reverses Cognitive Impairment: An Intervention Controlled Pilot Study

In older adults with snoring—including those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD)—oral appliance therapy with a mouth shield led to cognitive improvements (MoCA scores) in 71% of MCI participants and 50% of those with AD, plus snoring reduction across groups. Results point to stabilized breathing patterns mitigating OSA-related sleep fragmentation and hypoxia for better brain health.

Learn more from our founder, Dr. Keith Thornton, on how TAP + Mouth Shield can treat all four OSA phenotypes.

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