Mouth tape
Adhesive tape worn across the lips overnight to force nasal breathing
Skin-safe tape goes over the lips at night so breathing runs through the nose. It spread through social media as a snoring fix. Sleep researchers treat it with care, because anyone with obstructive sleep apnea may be closing off an airway they need, and the long-term safety data does not exist yet.
People on record
Sorted by strength of stance
Does it: documented as part of their own routine. Recommends: explicitly advises other people to do it. Discusses: covered it substantively without clear personal adoption; this can include criticism or disagreement.
- Andy GalpinDoes it
Exercise physiologist · Perform podcast
Uses mouth tape a lot, and offers it as the cheap first thing to try when snoring is wrecking someone's sleep. Sometimes that step alone solves the problem, he says. When it does not, the next step he names is usually a sleep study.
Source: Perform: How to Enhance Performance With Better Sleep“I use it a ton, especially using a combination of nasal dilators, so either nasal strips or something like that to open up your nasal passageways, as well as mouth tape.”
Perform: How to Enhance Performance With Better Sleep (opens in a new tab) · 10 Jul 2024 - Matthew WalkerDiscusses
Sleep scientist · author of Why We Sleep
Took on the mouth taping trend and came away unconvinced. Early data hints at a benefit in mild obstructive sleep apnea, he says, while for moderate or severe cases he warns the tape can block an escape valve for air. His summary: the hype has run ahead of the evidence.
Source: The Matt Walker Podcast #102: Mouth Taping
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