"Mouth taping" is the new and dangerous trend of sleeping with tape on your mouth.
The practice of covering one's lips with adhesive tape while sleeping, known as mouth taping, has recently gained popularity thanks to public figures such as Gwyneth Paltrow and Ashley Graham. Although it has been widely circulated on social media as a possible remedy for bad breath, snoring, and allergies, specialists warn that it lacks solid scientific support and may pose significant health risks.
What is mouth taping?This technique involves placing tape over the lips to keep the mouth closed during sleep and thus encourage nasal breathing. According to Dr. Sebastián López, an otolaryngologist with experience in sleep medicine and part of the medical team at the Italian Hospital in Buenos Aires, the goal is to prevent mouth breathing, which frequently occurs during the night.
READ: How healthy is it to eat cereal with milk for breakfast every day?López indicated that this trend has gone viral, mainly on social media, where it is even promoted as a supposed treatment for sleep apnea. However, he warned that this use can be dangerous if not done under medical supervision. especially since there is insufficient evidence to support its effectiveness in treating respiratory disorders during rest.
Breathing through the nose does offer proven benefits. These include filtering allergens and particles, humidifying the air, regulating its temperature, and improving overall oxygenation. Furthermore, it has been observed to enhance athletic performance and can improve sleep quality. López explained that even some professional athletes train with their mouths closed for these reasons.
The Cleveland Clinic in the United States has also highlighted the benefits of nasal breathing over mouth breathing. According to the institution, the latter can cause side effects such as bad breath, dry mouth, sore throat, and increased exposure to infections.
Situations in which its use may be considered:- In people who breathe through the mouth without anatomical obstructions, as part of nasal re-education therapy
- After nasal or upper respiratory surgeries
- In women with mild apnea after menopause
- As a tool in sports training, to improve performance through nasal breathing
- Within relaxation and wellness routines
The U.S. Sleep Foundation suggests less invasive methods that can contribute to proper nasal breathing:
- Sleeping on your side: reduces snoring frequency and promotes airflow
- Use of nasal strips: these help open nasal passages without blocking the mouth
- Allergy treatment: controlling allergy symptoms makes it easier to breathe through your nose
- Asthma management: keeping the disease under control reduces nighttime awakenings
- Proper oral hygiene: prevents bad breath associated with mouth breathing
- Healthy sleep habits: Following proper routines can also improve nighttime breathing.
Although the idea of sealing the mouth while sleeping has become popular on social media, health professionals insist that this practice should not be applied without prior evaluation and medical supervision. The benefits of nasal breathing are real, but the methods used to achieve it must be safe and appropriate for each individual case.
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