Wellness
It may sound out there, but don’t write it off just yet.
Oh, and a roll of mouth tape, apparently.
Mouth taping a topic with over115 million viewson TikTok is the latest viral tip for a better nights sleep.
Creator@isabelle.luxsays she can no longer sleep without mouth tape, and@celia.gercovichis also a huge fan.
In a video, she noted that shes never slept better.
While mouth taping seems extra, there may also be something to it.
Heres what the experts have to say.
As the old saying goes, noses are for breathing, mouths are for eating, he tells Bustle.
Impaired brain function is a hallmark of sleep deprivation, and it canmimic symptoms of ADHD, Wu adds.
This is where mouth taping can potentially come in handy.
Of course, mouth taping isnt the only way to cure your nighttime breathing woes.
It may also help to relieve congestion before bed with a nasal spray.
Is Mouth Taping Safe?
Once youre in the clear, its OK to try taping your mouth.
Start with a few minutes during the day to see how it feels.
If its hard to breathe properly due to congestion or other nasal issue, Wu recommends skipping this trend.
If you’ve got the option to breathe comfortably, go ahead and test the tape at night.
Once you get into bed, Breus suggests placing asmall piece of micropore tapevertically not horizontally across your lips.
verify its easy to remove so that you dont have to panic or worry about it getting stuck.
It also shouldnt hurt to take off.
The idea is to gently hold the middle of your lips together not entirely close off your mouth.
From there, sleep as you normally would and see how you feel in the morning.
Studies referenced:
Alhola, P. (2007).
Sleep deprivation: Impact on cognitive performance.
PMID: 19300585; PMCID: PMC2656292.
Bhattacharyya, N. (2015).
Sleep and health implications of snoring: A populational analysis.
Bronchodilatory effect of warm air inhalation during quiet breathing.
PMID: 6710981; PMCID: PMC1021697.
Choi, E. (2016).
The Impact of Mouth-Taping in Mouth-Breathers with Mild Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Preliminary Study.
Healthcare (Basel).
The Diagnosis and Treatment of Snoring in Adults.
Evaluation and Management of Snoring.
