Simple education and safe tools recommended by a myofunctional therapist helping Oklahoma families breathe better.
Snoring, Mouth Breathing, or Poor Sleep?
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Welcome — You're in the Right Place.
If you were just handed this mouth tape bag, this page was made for you. Inside you'll find two types of mouth tape — and this guide will walk you through exactly how to use them, which one to try first, and what to expect.
Mouth taping is a simple tool to encourage nasal breathing while you sleep. For sleep apnea patients, nasal breathing isn't just a preference — it directly supports how well your sleep appliance works. When your mouth stays closed, your airway stays in a better position and your appliance can do its job more effectively.
Take a few minutes to explore this page. You'll find step-by-step instructions for both tape options, answers to common questions, and information about how myofunctional therapy can help address the root cause of mouth breathing — not just manage it night by night.
— Jennifer DeJonge, OMT
How to Use Your Mouth Tape
Both tapes are gentle, easy to remove, and designed to encourage your lips to stay closed during sleep — not to seal your mouth shut. If you can't comfortably breathe through your nose, do not use mouth tape. Always check with your doctor if you have any concerns.
MyoTape
MyoTape loops around the outside of your lips rather than covering your mouth directly. It gently encourages your lips to stay together while still allowing your mouth to open if needed.
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Make sure your lips and skin are clean and dry before applying.
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Peel and stretch your strip 20-30%. Place the tape around the perimeter of your lips, not over them.
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Press gently to secure. It should feel comfortable — not tight.
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Wear overnight. Remove slowly in the morning, peeling from the edge.
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If skin irritation occurs, take a night off and try again.
MyoTape is available in adult and children's sizes — both are included if your child is also working on nasal breathing.
Vio2
Vio2 tape is placed directly across the lips to encourage the mouth to stay closed overnight. It is unscented, hypoallergenic, latex free, and PFAS free.
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Make sure your lips are clean and dry — avoid applying lip balm beforehand.
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Peel and place the tape horizontally across the center of your lips.
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Press gently along the edges to secure.
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Wear overnight. In the morning, wet the tape slightly if needed to remove easily.
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If skin irritation occurs, take a night off and try the MyoTape instead.
Not sure which to start with?
Start with MyoTape if you feel any anxiety about having your mouth covered — its open design feels less restrictive for most first-time users. Try Vio2 if you want a more secure hold across your lips. Many people try both and settle on whichever feels most comfortable for their skin and sleep style.
My Favorite Mouth Tape Options
For individuals who can comfortably breathe through their nose, gentle mouth taping may be used as a tool to encourage nasal breathing during sleep. Different products work better for different people depending on comfort, skin sensitivity, and personal preference.
Here are a few options that many people find helpful:
MyoTape (Adults and Children)
MyoTape is designed to gently surround the lips rather than sealing the entire mouth. This design encourages the lips to stay closed while still allowing the mouth to open if needed, which can feel more comfortable for some people. MyoTape is available in both adult and children’s sizes.
Vio2 tape is placed across the lips to encourage the mouth to stay closed overnight.Many people appreciate that it is designed specifically for sleep and is easy to apply and remove. Vio2 tape is unscented, hypoallergenic, latex free, and PFAS free.
3M Micropore tape is a soft, breathable medical paper tape that is a simple option to encourage nasal breathing during sleep. A small vertical strip can be placed over the lips to gently remind the mouth to stay closed overnight. Many people appreciate this option because it is inexpensive, widely available, and generally easy to remove in the morning.
Different mouth tapes work better for different people depending on comfort, skin sensitivity, and personal preference.
Why Nasal Breathing Matters for Sleep Apnea
If you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea and are using a sleep appliance, you are already taking an important step toward better sleep. Mouth taping can support that — but it helps to understand why nasal breathing matters so much in the first place.
When you breathe through your mouth during sleep, a few things happen. Your tongue drops back toward your throat, partially blocking your airway. Your jaw shifts out of its optimal position. The soft tissues at the back of your throat are more likely to vibrate and collapse — which is what causes snoring and contributes to apnea events.
Nasal breathing changes that. When air moves through your nose, it is filtered, humidified, and warmed before reaching your lungs. Your tongue is more likely to rest in a higher position, keeping your airway more open. Nitric oxide — a molecule produced in the nasal passages — is delivered to your lungs, supporting oxygen uptake and circulation.
For sleep appliance users specifically, keeping your mouth closed at night means your appliance can work the way it was designed to. An open mouth can reduce the effectiveness of the appliance and allow the jaw to shift out of the position your provider carefully calibrated.
Mouth taping is a helpful tool. But it is not a fix.
If mouth breathing is a lifelong habit — during the day, not just at night — that pattern is driven by muscle function and tongue posture that tape alone cannot retrain. That is exactly what myofunctional therapy addresses. Through specific exercises done just a few minutes a day, the tongue and oral muscles are retrained to rest and function correctly, making nasal breathing feel natural rather than forced.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "I am already noticing such a difference in my breathing and sleep. The exercises Jennifer gave me are helping to fix my lifetime habit of mouth breathing. I highly recommend OMT of Oklahoma."
— OMT of Oklahoma patient
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "We had no idea my son's mouth breathing could be related to his tongue posture and airway. Jennifer did a thorough evaluation and explained everything in a way that made so much sense. Within weeks we noticed he was sleeping better and keeping his mouth closed during the day."
— Oklahoma City parent
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Jen is an incredible therapist — kind, knowledgeable, and truly dedicated to her patients. Her therapies for airway restriction and tongue movement have been absolutely amazing. She takes the time to explain the purpose behind each exercise and you can tell she really understands how these therapies can make a difference."
— OMT of Oklahoma patient
About
Jennifer DeJonge is a myofunctional therapist and dental hygienist helping Oklahoma families improve breathing, sleep, and oral health.
Ready to Address the Root Cause?
Mouth tape is a great first step. But if you are a mouth breather — during the day, not just at night — tape alone is managing a symptom, not solving the problem.
Mouth breathing is a habit driven by muscle function and tongue posture. Over time, the tongue learns to rest in a low position, the lips lose their natural seal, and nasal breathing starts to feel difficult or uncomfortable. These patterns develop over years, sometimes decades, and they don't correct themselves on their own.
Myofunctional therapy retrains those patterns.
Through a series of simple exercises done just five minutes a day, the tongue, lips, and facial muscles are guided back to their correct resting position and function. Most patients notice meaningful changes within the first few weeks. Full therapy typically takes ten to fifteen sessions over the course of several months.
For sleep appliance patients specifically, myofunctional therapy can:**
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Reduce or eliminate mouth breathing during the day and night
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Support better tongue posture, keeping your airway more open during sleep
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Improve how effectively your sleep appliance works
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Address the underlying muscle patterns driving your symptoms long term
Many patients find that combining their sleep appliance with myofunctional therapy produces significantly better results than either approach alone.
Evaluations are currently complimentary. If you are curious whether myofunctional therapy could help you, the first step is a no-pressure conversation.
What to Expect at Your First Visit
Your first visit with Jennifer is a comprehensive evaluation — not a sales pitch. It typically runs about 45 to 60 minutes and is designed to give you a complete picture of what is happening with your breathing, tongue posture, and oral muscle function. There is no obligation to continue after the evaluation.
Here is how it unfolds:
We start with your history. Jennifer will ask about your health and development from early childhood forward — feeding history, breathing patterns, sleep habits, digestion, allergies, and more. These details help identify when and why oral dysfunction began, and what may be contributing to your symptoms today.
Then we move into the exam. Jennifer will assess your tongue function and range of motion, check for tongue and lip ties, evaluate your airway and tonsils, measure your palate width, and film your swallow pattern. Every part of the exam has a purpose and Jennifer will explain what she is looking at and why as she goes.
Then we talk about what she found. You will leave your evaluation with a clear understanding of what is contributing to your symptoms and a specific recommendation for whether myofunctional therapy would benefit you. If other referrals are needed — an ENT, allergist, orthodontist, or tongue tie provider — Jennifer will let you know.
If therapy is recommended: Sessions are held every two to three weeks and run 30 to 45 minutes. You will go home with three active exercises and one passive exercise to practice twice a day — the whole routine takes about five minutes. FSA and health savings accounts are accepted. Payment plans are available.
Evaluations are currently complimentary. Jennifer sees patients ages 4 and up in person in Oklahoma City and virtually throughout Oklahoma.
FAQs
Is mouth taping safe?
For most people who can comfortably breathe through their nose, gentle mouth taping is considered safe. It is not designed to seal your mouth shut — both tapes included in your bag allow your mouth to open if needed. If you have significant nasal congestion, severe sleep apnea, or any breathing difficulties, check with your doctor before using mouth tape.
Can I use mouth tape with my sleep appliance?
Yes — in fact, using mouth tape alongside your sleep appliance is often recommended. When your mouth stays closed, your appliance can work the way it was designed to. If you have any questions about your specific appliance, check with your provider.
What if I feel anxious about having my mouth taped?
That is completely normal, especially the first few nights. Start with MyoTape — its loop design sits around the outside of your lips rather than over them, which feels much less restrictive. Wear it for a few minutes while awake before trying it overnight. Most people adjust within a few nights.
How long does it take to see results from mouth taping?
Many people notice they feel more rested and less congested within the first week. Results vary depending on how consistently you use it and whether nasal breathing is comfortable for you throughout the night.
What is myofunctional therapy and how is it different from mouth taping?
Mouth taping encourages your lips to stay closed at night — it is a passive tool. Myofunctional therapy actively retrains the tongue, lips, and facial muscles so that nasal breathing becomes your natural default, day and night. Therapy addresses the root cause; tape manages the symptom.
How do I know if I need myofunctional therapy?
If mouth breathing is a habit during the day as well as at night, if you snore or grind your teeth, if you wake tired despite a full night of sleep, or if your sleep appliance does not seem to be helping as much as expected — these are all signs that the underlying muscle patterns may need to be addressed. A complimentary evaluation with Jennifer is the best way to find out.
How long does myofunctional therapy take?
Most patients complete therapy in ten to fifteen sessions over several months, meeting every two to three weeks. Daily exercises take about five minutes twice a day.
Do you take insurance?
Jennifer is fee for service and does not bill medical insurance directly. FSA and health savings accounts are accepted. Payment plans are available. Evaluations are currently complimentary.
Do you see children?
Yes — Jennifer sees patients ages 4 and up. Children often achieve faster results than adults, and family sessions are encouraged. If a parent and child are seen together in the same session, the family member's evaluation is included at no additional cost.
How do I get started? Schedule a complimentary evaluation using the button below. Jennifer sees patients in person in Oklahoma City and virtually throughout Oklahoma.
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