**Why You Should Think Twice Before Taping Your Mouth Shut to Sleep**

Having your mouth taped shut is the stuff of nightmares — but some people are actually doing it themselves in an attempt to sleep better. Doctors, however, strongly advise against it.

Some social media users claim that taping your mouth shut is a hack for getting more and better sleep and reducing snoring. These claims, which are not backed by solid science, are gaining popularity on platforms like TikTok. Often, they are promoted by people affiliated with companies selling related products.

“The studies behind mouth tape are small, the benefits are modest, and the potential risks are there,” said Dr. Kimberly Hutchison, a neurologist and sleep medicine expert at Oregon Health & Science University. Some of the risks include worsening sleep disorders like sleep apnea or, in extreme cases, causing suffocation.

### Breathing Through Your Nose Is Better — But Don’t Rush to Tape Your Mouth Shut

Experts agree that it’s better to breathe through your nose most of the time. The nose acts as a natural filtering system, trapping dust and allergens before they can reach your lungs. Mouth breathing during sleep can lead to a dry mouth and irritated throat, which may contribute to bad breath and other oral health problems. It’s also linked to increased snoring.

However, taping your mouth shut is not the best way to fix mouth breathing. There is no strong evidence that it improves sleep quality. While a few small studies exist, their results have been inconclusive, and experts caution against drawing any firm conclusions.

Dr. David Schulman, a sleep doctor at Emory University, recommends other approaches such as prescription mouthpieces designed to open the airway or using a CPAP machine for those diagnosed with sleep apnea. Lifestyle changes like quitting smoking and losing weight can also help reduce mouth breathing and snoring.

### Mouth Breathing Could Signal a Serious Condition — Get It Checked

The safest approach is to figure out why you are breathing through your mouth at night. It might be a symptom of an underlying condition like obstructive sleep apnea — a disorder where airflow is repeatedly blocked during sleep, causing breathing to stop and start. Sleep apnea is often accompanied by open-mouth breathing and snoring and is typically treated with a CPAP machine.

“The reason sleep apnea can be bad is that any decrease in the quality of sleep can affect you day to day or over the course of your life,” explained Dr. Brian Chen, a sleep specialist at the Cleveland Clinic. “Depending on how bad the sleep is, you may just feel sleep deprived or require more sleep.”

Dr. Schulman from Emory University advises getting a sleep test, some of which can be done in the comfort of your home. “It’s always better to know than not know,” he said. “And if you find something is going on but choose not to pursue therapy, at least you’re making an educated decision.”

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*The Associated Press*
https://www.phillytrib.com/news/health/some-people-tape-their-mouths-shut-at-night-doctors-wish-they-wouldnt/article_0593d004-b506-4e5a-960e-cd319699e3e1.html