Doctors expose TikTok's mouth taping fad as unproven, risky, and medically unsafe
Mouth taping, a viral trend gaining momentum on TikTok and other social media platforms, is under scrutiny after a new Canadian study revealed it poses serious health risks, especially for people with undiagnosed sleep apnea or other breathing disorders.
Popular among self-styled 'looksmaxxing' communities and wellness influencers, the practice involves sealing the lips shut during sleep to encourage nasal breathing.
Claims range from improved sleep and better oral health to enhanced jawline definition and anti-aging effects.
But researchers from the Lawson Research Institute, London Health Sciences Centre Research Institute (LHSCRI), and Western University's Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry say these claims have no strong scientific basis.
They reviewed 86 studies on the subject and performed an in-depth analysis of 10 that included 213 patient experiences.
The conclusion: mouth taping does not deliver the health benefits influencers promise, and may actually worsen sleep-related breathing issues.
While social media content promotes mouth taping as a simple solution for a variety of sleep and cosmetic issues, the researchers found no robust evidence supporting any of these benefits.
The trend is being driven largely by non-experts, many of whom lack medical training. Dr. Brian Rotenberg, a researcher at Lawson, LHSCRI, and Schulich Medicine & Dentistry, noted that it was concerning to see celebrities and influencers endorsing mouth taping without scientific evidence.
He said, 'In the language of social media influencers, it seemed a bit 'sus,' so we examined what science is telling us about this trend and whether or not it is safe.'
The review found no meaningful improvements in sleep quality, oral hygiene, or physical appearance that could be directly linked to mouth taping.
In fact, most studies either showed no impact or highlighted potential complications.
The biggest concern from the researchers is the risk posed to people with undiagnosed sleep apnea, a condition where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep.
Taping the mouth can block a crucial airway route, especially if the nose becomes congested. Rotenberg, who is also an otolaryngologist and sleep surgeon, emphasized that taping the mouth shut during sleep is dangerous, especially among those who may not be aware they have sleep apnea.
He said these individuals are unknowingly making their symptoms worse and putting themselves at greater risk for serious health complications like heart disease.
The rise of mouth taping is closely tied to online beauty and 'optimization' trends, where users chase physical perfection through extreme or unproven techniques.
Within the looksmaxxing community, a space focused on enhancing perceived attractiveness, mouth taping has been promoted as a way to fix the so-called 'mouth breather face' and sculpt a more defined jawline.
It's often discussed alongside practices like 'mewing,' which involves tongue posture exercises, and 'mogging,' which describes outshining others in looks or dominance.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/CrSkAm_lemk
These aesthetic claims have spread rapidly across platforms like TikTok and Reddit, even though they lack credible scientific validation.
The influence of viral trends often outpaces scientific scrutiny, creating a gap that misinformation easily fills.
People trying these hacks are often unaware of the physiological dangers involved, particularly when they interfere with something as critical as breathing.
The study's authors stressed the importance of making health decisions based on scientific research rather than social media fads.
The message from the medical community is clear: wellness trends should not come at the cost of breathing safely through the night.
The study is published in the journal PLOS One.
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