A TikTok video, 24 million views, and a new trend starts: Mouth Taping. It’s a trend where people tape their mouths shut while sleeping to encourage nasal breathing. A practice that becomes popular easily, before evidence can be established.
People are believing the claims around it, reduced snoring, better sleep, and better breathing. Some of this may be true, mouth breathing can cause dry mouth, more bacterial growth, and hence cavities. The problem isn’t addressing the underlying cause of mouth breathing, but instead believing a trend.
There is limited evidence on mouth taping. Some studies report improvements in certain sleep parameters, while others show little or no meaningful benefit. A preliminary study on patients already diagnosed with mild obstructive sleep apnea did find meaningful improvement, about 65% responded well, with measurable reductions in apnea severity and snoring. But this was in patients under medical supervision, with a known diagnosis, not in people self-applying tape without knowing what’s causing their mouth breathing in the first place.
There could be various causes of mouth breathing: a deviated septum, nasal polyps or other obstructions, obstructive sleep apnea, or nasal congestion. More than 60% of physicians believe mouth taping could potentially delay the diagnosis of an underlying sleep disorder. Moreover, if nasal breathing is already compromised, taping the mouth can make breathing more difficult.
Beyond that, skin and lip irritation can occur, adhesives can cause allergic reactions, and a taped mouth can cause anxiety and sleep disturbance.
The real issue is why someone is mouth breathing during sleep. A viral strip of tape cannot diagnose nasal obstruction, identify sleep apnea, or replace appropriate treatment. Until stronger evidence establishes who might benefit and under what conditions, mouth taping is better viewed as an unproven wellness trend than a standard sleep intervention.
Have you also come across such videos, or had patients ask you about mouth taping?
MBH/PS