A strange new trend has quietly spread across social media: people taping their mouths shut at night in the belief it forces nasal breathing, reduces snoring and improves sleep. But doctors are increasingly alarmed, they warn it’s a risky shortcut, not a health solution.
Proponents argue that if you keep your lips sealed, you’re compelled to breathe through your nose, which offers benefits like warming, humidifying and filtering air. Some even claim it improves skin, jawline, mood or digestion, though those benefits are anecdotal.
However, the science behind mouth taping is weak. A recent review found only 10 eligible studies (covering 213 participants) and concluded that benefits were modest at best.
- Meanwhile, several risks stand out:
- If your nasal passages are blocked (by allergy, deviated septum, polyps, congestion), sealing your mouth may leave you with no effective airway, a serious danger.
- It can delay diagnosis of underlying conditions like sleep apnoea, which require proper medical treatment.
- Skin irritation or allergic reaction to adhesive tape is possible.
- Anxiety, discomfort, or disrupted sleep might result simply from the physical restriction.
