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Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
The pros and cons of mouth taping for sleep
Taping your mouth shut for sleep has gone mainstream. Spurred on by celebrity endorsements and social media influencers, it's now a billion-dollar industry. On TikTok, for example, the endorsements are widespread. One influencer claims mouth tape is the 'beauty tip of life' that has changed the appearance of her face and jaw for the better. Another TikToker assures her followers that using mouth tape is 'not a placebo effect — I've slept so much better since using this,' while someone else insists mouth tapers will 'wake up more energized,' adding that 'it helps with anxiety, and … if you snore, it helps with, like, not snoring.' One woman couldn't even recall why she started taping her mouth for sleep: 'Truth be told, I don't know. I saw a TikTok about it, and I can't remember what the benefits were. But it helps me stay asleep!' Mouth taping has become an internet star even though science has yet to prove its benefit — and has shown it can do harm. 'The purported benefits that are being touted for this — improving apnea, improving snoring, making your nose look better, making your jaw look better — it just doesn't come out in the wash that that actually is what's happening,' said sleep specialist Dr. Brian Rotenberg, professor of otolaryngology – head and neck surgery at Western University's Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry in London, Ontario. If you're one of the roughly 30 million Americans with sleep apnea, mouth taping could seriously restrict airflow, thus depriving your brain and body of critically needed oxygen, according to experts. Sleep apnea is a dangerous condition in which people stop breathing for up to a minute multiple times an hour. In severe cases, people stop breathing hundreds of times each night. About 23.5 million of those who have sleep apnea in the US are undiagnosed, according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Yet the condition can lead to heart disease, diabetes, stroke, depression and even premature death if left untreated. A recent analysis by Rotenberg and his colleagues found taping or sealing the mouth closed or strapping the chin to keep the mouth closed 'could pose a serious risk of asphyxiation in the presence of nasal obstruction or regurgitation.' Nasal obstructions can make it difficult to breathe through the nose as well, so reaching for mouth tape without first checking with a sleep specialist is unwise, experts say. 'There's so many other reasons we can't breathe through our nose — deviated septum, nasal polyps, even in some cases, nasal tumors can happen,' Rotenberg said. 'A large number of people would rather turn to Instagram or TikTok or other sources of information rather than their physician or nurse practitioner to actually make a diagnosis.' The goal for most mouth tape aficionados is to breathe through the nose, which experts say is healthier. Fine hairs in your nose called cilia filter out dust, allergens, germs and environmental debris. Nose breathing also moisturizes incoming air, while dry air breathed in through the mouth can irritate the lungs, said Dr. Raj Dasgupta, an associate professor of clinical medicine, pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine at Huntington Health in Pasadena, California. 'Nasal breathing may lower blood pressure by increasing nitric oxide, a compound in your body that can be helpful for keeping your blood pressure under control,' Dasgupta said. In addition, breathing through the nose is relaxing, which is why it is often recommended, along with yoga and meditation, as a way to promote sleep. Mouth tapers won't experience these benefits, however, unless they first learn to properly place their tongue in the mouth, said Ann Kearney, a speech language pathologist at Stanford University School of Medicine. 'It's a little frustrating for me when people just think they can tape their mouth shut and that's it — that's not the point,' Kearney said. 'The tongue has to be up and in the forward position or you're not going to get the benefits of the nasal breathing.' To do that, put the tip of your tongue directly behind your front teeth and then relax the tongue along the upper palate of your mouth and keep it there, she said. Another way to explain it: Try to say the word 'the,' but don't remove your tongue from your teeth. Then relax the tongue along the top of the mouth. If the tongue isn't moved up and forward, 'the base of tongue is back in the airway, which causes more of an obstruction,' Kearney said. 'But when you get it up and forward, it opens that airway and allows for easier nasal breathing.' If you do decide to use mouth tape — after you're checked out by a doctor, of course — you need only a 2-inch piece of thin medical-grade tape, she said. 'I've heard crazy things on social media where people are using duct tape or taking the big piece of tape and really covering their mouth,' Kearney said. 'It's not necessary.' Get inspired by a weekly roundup on living well, made simple. Sign up for CNN's Life, But Better newsletter for information and tools designed to improve your well-being.
CNN
11-07-2025
- Health
- CNN
The pros and cons of mouth taping for sleep
Winding down Social media TikTokFacebookTweetLink Follow Taping your mouth shut for sleep has gone mainstream. Spurred on by celebrity endorsements and social media influencers, it's now a billion-dollar industry. On TikTok, for example, the endorsements are widespread. One influencer claims mouth tape is the 'beauty tip of life' that has changed the appearance of her face and jaw for the better. Another TikToker assures her followers that using mouth tape is 'not a placebo effect — I've slept so much better since using this,' while someone else insists mouth tapers will 'wake up more energized,' adding that 'it helps with anxiety, and … if you snore, it helps with, like, not snoring.' One woman couldn't even recall why she started taping her mouth for sleep: 'Truth be told, I don't know. I saw a TikTok about it, and I can't remember what the benefits were. But it helps me stay asleep!' Mouth taping has become an internet star even though science has yet to prove its benefit — and has shown it can do harm. 'The purported benefits that are being touted for this — improving apnea, improving snoring, making your nose look better, making your jaw look better — it just doesn't come out in the wash that that actually is what's happening,' said sleep specialist Dr. Brian Rotenberg, professor of otolaryngology – head and neck surgery at Western University's Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry in London, Ontario. If you're one of the roughly 30 million Americans with sleep apnea, mouth taping could seriously restrict airflow, thus depriving your brain and body of critically needed oxygen, according to experts. Sleep apnea is a dangerous condition in which people stop breathing for up to a minute multiple times an hour. In severe cases, people stop breathing hundreds of times each night. About 23.5 million of those who have sleep apnea in the US are undiagnosed, according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Yet the condition can lead to heart disease, diabetes, stroke, depression and even premature death if left untreated. A recent analysis by Rotenberg and his colleagues found taping or sealing the mouth closed or strapping the chin to keep the mouth closed 'could pose a serious risk of asphyxiation in the presence of nasal obstruction or regurgitation.' Nasal obstructions can make it difficult to breathe through the nose as well, so reaching for mouth tape without first checking with a sleep specialist is unwise, experts say. 'There's so many other reasons we can't breathe through our nose — deviated septum, nasal polyps, even in some cases, nasal tumors can happen,' Rotenberg said. 'A large number of people would rather turn to Instagram or TikTok or other sources of information rather than their physician or nurse practitioner to actually make a diagnosis.' The goal for most mouth tape aficionados is to breathe through the nose, which experts say is healthier. Fine hairs in your nose called cilia filter out dust, allergens, germs and environmental debris. Nose breathing also moisturizes incoming air, while dry air breathed in through the mouth can irritate the lungs, said Dr. Raj Dasgupta, an associate professor of clinical medicine, pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine at Huntington Health in Pasadena, California. 'Nasal breathing may lower blood pressure by increasing nitric oxide, a compound in your body that can be helpful for keeping your blood pressure under control,' Dasgupta said. In addition, breathing through the nose is relaxing, which is why it is often recommended, along with yoga and meditation, as a way to promote sleep. Mouth tapers won't experience these benefits, however, unless they first learn to properly place their tongue in the mouth, said Ann Kearney, a speech language pathologist at Stanford University School of Medicine. 'It's a little frustrating for me when people just think they can tape their mouth shut and that's it — that's not the point,' Kearney said. 'The tongue has to be up and in the forward position or you're not going to get the benefits of the nasal breathing.' To do that, put the tip of your tongue directly behind your front teeth and then relax the tongue along the upper palate of your mouth and keep it there, she said. Another way to explain it: Try to say the word 'the,' but don't remove your tongue from your teeth. Then relax the tongue along the top of the mouth. If the tongue isn't moved up and forward, 'the base of tongue is back in the airway, which causes more of an obstruction,' Kearney said. 'But when you get it up and forward, it opens that airway and allows for easier nasal breathing.' If you do decide to use mouth tape — after you're checked out by a doctor, of course — you need only a 2-inch piece of thin medical-grade tape, she said. 'I've heard crazy things on social media where people are using duct tape or taking the big piece of tape and really covering their mouth,' Kearney said. 'It's not necessary.' Get inspired by a weekly roundup on living well, made simple. Sign up for CNN's Life, But Better newsletter for information and tools designed to improve your well-being.
CNN
11-07-2025
- Health
- CNN
The pros and cons of mouth taping for sleep
Taping your mouth shut for sleep has gone mainstream. Spurred on by celebrity endorsements and social media influencers, it's now a billion-dollar industry. On TikTok, for example, the endorsements are widespread. One influencer claims mouth tape is the 'beauty tip of life' that has changed the appearance of her face and jaw for the better. Another TikToker assures her followers that using mouth tape is 'not a placebo effect — I've slept so much better since using this,' while someone else insists mouth tapers will 'wake up more energized,' adding that 'it helps with anxiety, and … if you snore, it helps with, like, not snoring.' One woman couldn't even recall why she started taping her mouth for sleep: 'Truth be told, I don't know. I saw a TikTok about it, and I can't remember what the benefits were. But it helps me stay asleep!' Mouth taping has become an internet star even though science has yet to prove its benefit — and has shown it can do harm. 'The purported benefits that are being touted for this — improving apnea, improving snoring, making your nose look better, making your jaw look better — it just doesn't come out in the wash that that actually is what's happening,' said sleep specialist Dr. Brian Rotenberg, professor of otolaryngology – head and neck surgery at Western University's Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry in London, Ontario. If you're one of the roughly 30 million Americans with sleep apnea, mouth taping could seriously restrict airflow, thus depriving your brain and body of critically needed oxygen, according to experts. Sleep apnea is a dangerous condition in which people stop breathing for up to a minute multiple times an hour. In severe cases, people stop breathing hundreds of times each night. About 23.5 million of those who have sleep apnea in the US are undiagnosed, according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Yet the condition can lead to heart disease, diabetes, stroke, depression and even premature death if left untreated. A recent analysis by Rotenberg and his colleagues found taping or sealing the mouth closed or strapping the chin to keep the mouth closed 'could pose a serious risk of asphyxiation in the presence of nasal obstruction or regurgitation.' Nasal obstructions can make it difficult to breathe through the nose as well, so reaching for mouth tape without first checking with a sleep specialist is unwise, experts say. 'There's so many other reasons we can't breathe through our nose — deviated septum, nasal polyps, even in some cases, nasal tumors can happen,' Rotenberg said. 'A large number of people would rather turn to Instagram or TikTok or other sources of information rather than their physician or nurse practitioner to actually make a diagnosis.' The goal for most mouth tape aficionados is to breathe through the nose, which experts say is healthier. Fine hairs in your nose called cilia filter out dust, allergens, germs and environmental debris. Nose breathing also moisturizes incoming air, while dry air breathed in through the mouth can irritate the lungs, said Dr. Raj Dasgupta, an associate professor of clinical medicine, pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine at Huntington Health in Pasadena, California. 'Nasal breathing may lower blood pressure by increasing nitric oxide, a compound in your body that can be helpful for keeping your blood pressure under control,' Dasgupta said. In addition, breathing through the nose is relaxing, which is why it is often recommended, along with yoga and meditation, as a way to promote sleep. Mouth tapers won't experience these benefits, however, unless they first learn to properly place their tongue in the mouth, said Ann Kearney, a speech language pathologist at Stanford University School of Medicine. 'It's a little frustrating for me when people just think they can tape their mouth shut and that's it — that's not the point,' Kearney said. 'The tongue has to be up and in the forward position or you're not going to get the benefits of the nasal breathing.' To do that, put the tip of your tongue directly behind your front teeth and then relax the tongue along the upper palate of your mouth and keep it there, she said. Another way to explain it: Try to say the word 'the,' but don't remove your tongue from your teeth. Then relax the tongue along the top of the mouth. If the tongue isn't moved up and forward, 'the base of tongue is back in the airway, which causes more of an obstruction,' Kearney said. 'But when you get it up and forward, it opens that airway and allows for easier nasal breathing.' If you do decide to use mouth tape — after you're checked out by a doctor, of course — you need only a 2-inch piece of thin medical-grade tape, she said. 'I've heard crazy things on social media where people are using duct tape or taking the big piece of tape and really covering their mouth,' Kearney said. 'It's not necessary.' Get inspired by a weekly roundup on living well, made simple. Sign up for CNN's Life, But Better newsletter for information and tools designed to improve your well-being.
The Independent
25-05-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Scientists warn against viral nighttime mouth-taping trend
The recent social media -driven fad of taping one's mouth shut while sleeping to prevent mouth breathing could pose a serious risk of asphyxiation, a new review of studies warns. When one's nasal passages are blocked, breathing naturally shifts from the nose to the mouth. Mouth breathing has been linked to conditions ranging from snoring to obstructive sleep apnea, in which breathing stops and starts frequently during sleep. A viral trend on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram promotes placing tape over the mouth to stop 'mouth breathing' and promote breathing through the nose during sleep. Many social media influencers and celebrities claim mouth taping leads to better sleep, enhanced oral health, and anti-ageing results. However, until now, the safety and effectiveness of nighttime mouth taping remain unclear. 'It was concerning to us that celebrities and influencers are endorsing mouth taping without scientific evidence,' said study co-author Brian Rotenberg. '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,' Dr Rotenberg said. The new review evaluated over 10 previous studies that assessed the potential benefits of sealing the mouth shut using techniques including tape or other devices like chin straps in a total of 213 patients. Two of the 10 studies suggest that mouth taping may be associated with slight improvement among a subset of people with mild obstructive sleep apnea. However, other studies found no evidence of the practice helping treat mouth breathing, sleep-disordered breathing, or sleep apnea. Four of the 10 studies warn of a potentially serious risk of asphyxiation posed by sealing the mouth shut during sleep among people with serious restriction of nasal airways. Such a serious nasal obstruction could be caused by conditions like hay fever, chronic rhinitis, deviated septum, sinonasal disease, or enlarged tonsils, scientists say. 'Many people are not appropriate for mouth taping, and in some cases it can lead to risk of serious health harm,' they wrote. 'These individuals are unknowingly making their symptoms worse and putting themselves at greater risk for serious health complications like heart disease,' Dr Rotenberg explained. Based on the findings, researchers caution against nighttime mouth taping as a treatment for sleep-disordered breathing. 'We need to make health decisions based on strong scientific evidence. Our hope is that people stop taping their mouths during sleep and recognise it is dangerous,' said Jess Rhee, another author of the study.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
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. 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.
