On the social media platform, Tiktok there is a trend that has gone viral about putting a tape in one's mouth. People who do the act say they have uninterrupted quality sleep and other benefits
The movies show how the tape is being used to keep one's mouth shut during a specific scene. But mouth taping is now a trend that is actually beneficial to sleep-disturbed people, providing better breathing patterns and better oral health.
Generally speaking, it is harmless to breathe through one's mouth, and most people prefer to breathe through their mouth during the daytime, but does it really help reduce sleep distractions and produce good sleep?
All these Tiktokers' claims that the benefits of mouth taping are actually true. It is a real home remedy to cure some sleep-related dilemmas. However, according to the experts, there are some risks, and it needs to be confirmed scientifically.
Mouth Taping and Its Benefits
Mouth taping refers to the practice of putting a small amount of adhesive tape into one's mouth before sleeping.
In Tiktok videos, some users utilize regular scotch tape for it. Experts discouraged the use of scotch tape pointing out that the skin on human lips is too thin and will be damaged if the material is pulled incorrectly.
Before diving into the trend, the Sleep Foundation, an organization that conducts studies about sleep health, suggested consulting a professional to confirm any medical benefits from the social media trend.
Sleep specialist Michael Breus Ph. D., told VERIFY that mouth taping is not a new thing and has been used in practice for more than 5 years. According to him, when the mouth is shut before bedtime, it prompts the person to breathe through their nose.
Breus mentioned that the reason people have started mouth taping is to follow the basic concept of the body part's role - that the nose is meant for breathing and the mouth is meant for eating.
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Before Taping the Mouth
Mouth taping is not for everyone, particularly for those who have sleep apnea, a commonly undiagnosed sleep disorder. About 90 percent of individuals with the said condition are undiagnosed.
The disorder is a serious sleeping ailment that causes multiple stops or pauses in breathing during sleep, it reduces oxygen levels in the body, which harms general health in many ways.
Sleep apnea's symptoms are loud snoring, coughing and gasping during sleep, excessive daytime sleepiness, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes.
Apart from these disadvantages, mouth taping can cause unpleasant side effects and a bit of danger, such as pain in removing the tape, lip irritation, anxiety, breathing difficulty during nasal congestion, and others.
On the taping, Dr. Breus advised mouth tape brands that are porous and still allow airflow and said placing the tape should be done vertically and in the center of the mouth for better oxygen access. He added that snoring will be gone once the mouth is shut, the mouth will be properly lubricated and reduce dryness that can affect the salivary glands.
If taping is not doing the job, he suggested alternatives by doing physical and breathing exercises, reducing caffeine intake, and decongesting using a saline solution before bedtime.
Check out more news and information on Sleep Study in Science Times.
