Sleeping with tape on your mouth: Is it good or bad for your health?

Sleeping with your mouth sealed with adhesive tape, also known as mouth taping, has become a viral trend on social media. While it promises to improve sleep, reduce snoring, combat bad breath, and even contour your face, it has sparked controversy among sleep medicine specialists, who warn of its potential risks.

The technique basically involves placing a porous medical tape over the lips before going to bed to encourage nasal breathing. Proponents claim that keeping the mouth closed at night helps prevent dry mouth, improves oxygenation, and allows for deeper sleep.

Other news: Pension reform: Congress submitted error correction report

The phenomenon gained notoriety thanks to influencers like Olivia Tennison, who shared her positive experience with taping on TikTok, saying, "After trying it one night, I knew it would continue to be part of my routine. It keeps my mouth shut and helps me sleep through the night," in a video that has surpassed 8 million views.

A 2023 US survey found that more than 1 in 10 adults had recently tried the technique and found that motivations ranged from reducing snoring to trying to change facial appearance, despite no evidence that this is possible in adults.

However, specialists urge caution, as is the case of Indira Gurubhagavatula, professor of medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and spokesperson for the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, who in conversation with National Geographic warns that the practice is not without risks and explains that "for people with respiratory conditions, such as sleep apnea, wearing tape on the mouth could hinder the entry of oxygen and worsen the condition."

In this regard, NatGeo explains that obstructive sleep apnea affects approximately one billion people worldwide between the ages of 30 and 69, adding that in these cases, blocking mouth breathing could worsen episodes of respiratory pauses during sleep. In fact, experts recommend that anyone experiencing symptoms such as intense snoring, nighttime choking, or excessive sleepiness consult a doctor before attempting this technique.

You may be interested in: May's ISE stood at 2.8%, confirming the fragile pace of the national economy's progress.

A small 2022 study cited by National Geographic, conducted with 20 people with mild sleep apnea, showed that 13 of them reduced their snoring by using medical tape. However, the authors acknowledge that larger studies are needed to validate its effects.

For its part, the Sleep Foundation agrees that mouth taping can help promote nasal breathing during sleep and reduce problems associated with mouth breathing, such as snoring, dry mouth, bad breath, cavities, and gum disease; although it clarifies that it is a controversial practice.

Elaborating on the above, he cautions that most of these benefits are anecdotal and should not be considered a medical treatment, especially for those with sleep apnea symptoms such as nighttime gasping, choking, or daytime fatigue.

Both sources emphasize that nasal breathing does have known benefits and helps filter allergens, humidify the air, regulate its temperature, and facilitate better oxygen exchange with less resistance in the upper airways.

More information: Rice farmers will not end strike until meeting with Ministry of Agriculture: where closures continue

Regarding the supposed aesthetic impact, Salma Batool-Anwar, director of the Sleep Medicine fellowship program at Massachusetts General Brigham and Women's Hospital, clarifies in National Geographic that there are no studies demonstrating that mouth taping alters the jawline in adults.

However, he points out that mouth breathing during childhood and adolescence can influence facial structure. In fact, a cited study shows that children who breathe through their mouths tend to develop alterations in their palate, tongue, and jaw, unlike those who breathe through their nose.

That said, those who regularly breathe through their mouths should first rule out medical causes, such as congestion from allergies, a deviated septum, or polyps. Rather than sealing the mouth immediately, experts recommend improving sleep hygiene, such as maintaining a regular sleep schedule, avoiding screens before bed, and resting in a dark, quiet room.

If someone decides to try oral taping, they should use hypoallergenic medical tape, not regular adhesive tape, to avoid irritation or injury. Before joining this viral trend, it's advisable to consult with a sleep medicine specialist. DANIEL HERNÁNDEZ NARANJO

Portfolio Journalist