By Susan Schwartz
I first heard of mouth taping more than a decade ago when I was a beauty editor in Hong Kong and a contact of mine told me she used surgical tape to help her get a better night’s sleep.
I dismissed it as a weird fringe thing, but the trend seems to have gained major momentum over the past year, with a plethora of companies now offering specialised mouth tape that promises a whole new you.
So what is mouth taping? The premise is that closing the mouth while sleeping will encourage nasal breathing.
There are not many studies on the idea but, anecdotally, proponents argue this prevents mouth breathing which they say: improves sleep quality; helps filter dust and allergens; reduces snoring and a dry mouth which can lead to a sore throat, bad breath and tooth decay; and some even claim it can encourage a snatched jawline.
Apparently just a slither of tape placed vertically over the lips is the way to go, not horizontally like in those duck-taped hostages in the movies.
However one small study in the US showed that some patients who had their mouth taped instead developed a “mouth puffing phenomena” where they would puff air through the side of their mouths on either side of the tape.
A report in the American Journal of Otolaryngology (ear, nose and throat), called for additional high-quality research to “clarify clinical applicability.”
Mouth taping’s popularity has sparked discussion within the medical community, it said.
It said most social media mouth taping claims were unsubstantiated, and that the current research was limited. But it found some research indicated mouth taping may be advantageous in certain circumstances.
Mouth taping may not be suitable for everyone, as it has potentially risky side-affects such as reduced oxygen levels, disrupted sleep and skin irritation. It may be especially harmful if you have a sleep disorder such as sleep apnea, allergies or asthma, or a nasal obstruction. If in doubt, consult your doctor first.
Here is a selection of mouth taping products in no particular order:
