May 29, 2025 12:30:00

Sleeping with your mouth covered is a TikTok trend, but experts say it's 'definitely not a good idea'

Believing in the myth that it reduces snoring and sharpens the jawline, the attempt to sleep with tape over one's mouth in order to breathe through one's nose has become popular, especially among young people. It is true that covering one's mouth does force breathing through the nose, but experts warn that 'the benefits are limited and there are many risks.'

Please don't tape your mouth at night, whatever TikTok says. A new study shows why this viral trend can be risky

https://theconversation.com/please-dont-tape-your-mouth-at-night-whatever-tiktok-says-a-new-study-shows-why-this-viral-trend-can-be-risky-256901

'Moutha taping,' or sleeping with your mouth taped, has become a trend on social media sites like TikTok. Many users claim that it improves their sleep and health, and in addition to the traditional benefits of 'reducing snoring,' 'reducing dry mouth,' and 'improving asthma,' newer claims of mouth taping include 'improved skin tone,' 'improved digestive function,' and 'sharper jawline.'

However, the benefits of mouth taping are said to be limited.

A study from the London Health Sciences Centre in London, Ontario, Canada found that of eight previous studies that tried to use mouth taping to prevent sleep disorders, only two found any benefit, and the improvements observed were only small.

In addition, studies have been found that report serious harm from covering the mouth. In particular, for people who breathe through their mouths due to extreme blockage of the nasal airway, covering the mouth may pose a risk of suffocation. Experts point out that 'mouth taping is absolutely not recommended' for people with such 'stuffy nose' because it blocks both the nose and mouth at the same time.

Plus, past studies have only looked at a link between blocked noses and sleep apnea, and there's no evidence that it improves your mood, skin tone, digestive function, or even a sharper jawline.

'Anyone with sleep concerns is best served by consulting a trusted scientific source or a medical professional who can treat the underlying cause of their sleep issues. Trying a social media fad like mouth taping before consulting a professional may result in missing symptoms that could be fixed with evidence-based treatments. In healthy adults with no respiratory illnesses, sleep disorders or tape allergies, mouth taping may have a small effect, but there is not enough evidence yet,' the experts said.