Taping your mouth shut to sleep better? Yes, but only if you already sleep well.

Why nasal breathing is becoming the new melatonin?

Sleeping with a taped mouth sounds crazy at first, but proponents of the practice claim that medical tape has helped them not only sleep better but also get sick less often, look better, and lose weight effortlessly.

What other benefits can you expect from a piece of sticky tape that has garnered over four million views under the hashtag #mouthtaping?

The decision to sleep with forcibly closed lips is based on the theory that nasal breathing is more beneficial: the incoming air is more thoroughly "filtered" – fewer allergens, bacteria, and viruses enter the body.

Another argument in favor of nasal breathing is that it allows more air to pass through, making the breathing cycle slower and deeper. Breathing steadily is important if you want to relax, especially if you find it hard to wind down at night. But quality breathing also helps you gather your thoughts in the morning: during sleep, the brain gets more oxygen, reducing the chances of waking up with a foggy head.

There are also aesthetic benefits to sleeping with tape. Primarily, it should help alleviate dry lips, while also tightening the jawline and reducing swelling.

Sleep specialists are cautious about the method. There are only two indications for mouth taping confirmed by the medical community: snoring and sudden breathing stops during sleep – apnea.

There are many reasons why a person might start breathing through their mouth: from a simple stuffy nose to a deviated septum or even cancer – so before trying self-treatment it's better to consult a specialist.

If you are completely healthy and have decided to follow the trend in pursuit of perfection, here’s what you need to remember:

✅ Choose tape specifically designed for taping. You can use regular adhesive tape, but first, remove some of the adhesive by sticking it to your hand, so you can easily remove it in the morning without giving the sensitive area a mechanical peel.

✅ Be cautious with adhesive tapes if you have concerns about atopy, acne, or rosacea – the sticky base is not meant for reactive skin.

✅ When starting the experiment, don’t try to tape your mouth completely shut. Fix two pieces of tape at the corners of your lips – this way, air can still pass not only through your nose, reducing discomfort from the unfamiliar position of the facial muscles at first.

✅ Make sure the tape is not too tight against your skin. Otherwise, you might want to clench your teeth, which will lead to tension in the neck and facial muscles and cause headaches instead of the expected relaxation.

✅ If the tape causes you to wake up for more than a couple of nights in a row, it’s a reason to unblock your mouth.