Doctors are warning against a viral trend on TikTok where people tape their mouths shut to improve sleep and reduce snoring, calling it potentially deadly. The practice, promoted by some influencers and companies selling related products, lacks scientific backing and poses serious risks.
Dr Kimberly Hutchison, a neurologist and sleep medicine expert at Oregon Health and Science University, said: “The studies behind mouth tape are small, the benefits are modest, and the potential risks are there.” These risks include exacerbating sleep disorders such as sleep apnoea and even causing suffocation.
While breathing through the nose is preferable—as it filters dust and allergens—mouth breathing in adults is not a major health problem. Taping the mouth shut is not the best solution. A few small studies showed little or no impact, and experts say conclusions should not be drawn from them.
Dr David Schulman, a sleep doctor at Emory University, recommends alternatives such as prescription mouthpieces, CPAP machines, quitting smoking, or losing weight. The safest approach is to identify the underlying cause of mouth breathing, which could be obstructive sleep apnoea—a disorder where breathing repeatedly stops and starts due to a blocked airway.
Dr Brian Chen, a sleep doctor at the Cleveland Clinic, warned that sleep apnoea can lead to day-to-day sleep deprivation and long-term health issues. The best course of action, according to Schulman, is to undergo a sleep test, some of which can be done at home. “It’s always better to know than not know,” he said.
