A new trend on TikTok is worrying doctors over fears it could restrict breathing, but what is mouth taping, and why are people doing it? If your For You Page suddenly looks like a hostage horror b-movie of people with tape over their mouths, then chances are this is why.
Mouth taping is the latest risky TikTok trend that supposedly prevents you from “mouth breathing” during the night – because apparently that’s unattractive now too. There’s no escape from beauty standards it seems, even when unconscious! The hashtag has already clocked up more than 24 million views, and medical experts and doctors are issuing warnings over the “dangerous” practice users claim prevents snoring and improves sleep.
In what seems like a new Darwin Award entry, the trend sees users placing tape over their mouths to sleep, to try and encourage nasal breathing.
Fans of the method say it improves sleep, and that by breathing through your nose instead of your mouth can prevent bad breath and gum disease. One user @healthwithcorey has had more than 5 million views alone of his video where he says he tapes his mouth every night, insisting it has reduced snoring and stopped his mouth from getting dry as “you are humidifying and moisturising the air”.
He explains he uses a tape specifically designed for this, and recommends people use a paper medical tape and stresses not to use duct tape as it can harm the lips. As ever though with trends and a bid to gain likes, many people have used duct tape instead. Commenters on TikTok are adamant that the trend works. 'It actually works for me. Been doing this long time. Deep sleep, no snore, wake up feel fresh. Apply it vertical first if you're anxious,” advised one. “I've been doing this now for a couple months after seeing this and it is life changing. 'Best sleep of my life,” said another.
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Experts at The Sleep Foundations say there has been little to no research on the benefits of mouth taping and warn of irritation on or around the lip from the tape, and disrupted sleep due to difficulty breathing through the nose.
Another sleep expert, James Wilson, a.k.a The Sleep Geek issued a warning saying any minor benefits are massively outweighed by the risks of taping. He said: “Unfortunately, mouth taping is an extreme way of encouraging nose breathing that has some serious health risks. If this is the case then taping your mouth will make your health worse and could contribute to more serious issues like heart disease, COPD, and stroke, particularly if applied and you are a sleep apnea sufferer.”
One doctor in the US, a general practitioner called Dr David Culpepper added: 'This is one of the most dangerous trends I’ve heard of in some time, and I’m quite concerned that it is being advocated as a "health" trend”.
Consider yourself warned, this is one trend not to try at home.
Jen Thomas