The AIRWAAV Performance Mouthpiece was developed over a 15-year period by its inventor, Dr. Dena Garner, a professor in the Department of Health and Human Performance, the Director of Undergraduate Research, and the Assistant Provost for Research and Policy at The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina. She and her team conducted research on elite athletes at The Citadel and perfected the mouthpiece for use during exercise such as cycling.
Rather than restricting your oxygen while training and competing, the AIRWAAV Performance Mouthpiece actually increases oxygen flow to your muscles during exertion. This is accomplished by two important features of the mouthpiece.
The first feature is the bite plate, which you bite down on gently while cycling. Not only does this help hold the device in place, but it positions your jaw in a way that optimizes the airway opening to help support the O2/CO2 exchange during cycling. When you first receive your AIRWAAV, you will mold the bite plate to your teeth, increasing its effectiveness and comfort. After all, if the mouthpiece is uncomfortable, you are less likely to wear it. The mouthpiece is made of our patented VistaMaxx material, which is strong enough to endure your teeth clenching during big efforts, and soft enough to be comfortable so you can wear it day after day.
The second feature is the intake bar, which is positioned against the back of your lower front teeth. You tuck your tongue forward and down under the bar, and this, combined with the jaw position resulting from clenching on the bite plate, opens your airway by nearly 10 percent. This can make a huge difference in the amount of oxygen that gets to your muscles.