Dr. Brian Rotenberg, an ear, nose and throat specialist in London, Ontario, is seen in this undated photo provided by the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry. He says there's no proof that the mouth-taping trend on social media actually helps your health. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, MANDATORY CREDIT
A new Canadian study has found no solid proof that mouth taping—an online trend meant to improve sleep—actually helps. In fact, researchers warn it could be dangerous for people with undiagnosed sleep apnea.
Mouth taping has grown in popularity thanks to social media and celebrity endorsements. The idea is that taping your lips closed at night forces you to breathe through your nose, which supposedly reduces snoring and improves sleep. But doctors from London Health Sciences Centre and Western University say these claims lack real scientific support.
Dr. Brian Rotenberg, the study’s senior author and a specialist in ear, nose, and throat issues, says this trend might do more harm than good, especially for people with sleep apnea—a serious disorder that causes breathing to repeatedly stop and start during sleep.
“A large number of people don’t know they have sleep apnea,” Rotenberg explained. “If you tape your mouth shut and already have a blocked airway, you’re just making things worse. You’re cutting off part of your airflow, which can be dangerous.”
To get a clearer picture, Rotenberg and his team looked at dozens of existing studies on mouth taping. Out of those, only ten were detailed enough to review further. Eight showed no real benefit, and two reported minor improvements that didn’t matter much in a clinical setting.
Rotenberg understands why people want to breathe through their noses—it does have advantages. Nose breathing warms the air and prevents dryness. But if you can’t do it easily while sleeping, there could be an underlying reason.
“If you’re struggling to breathe through your nose, it might be due to a physical issue like a deviated septum, nasal polyps, or even collapsed nasal valves,” Rotenberg said. “Taping your mouth isn’t going to solve those problems.”
He added that mouth taping has become a regular topic of conversation in his clinic. “Every week, someone asks me about it. That’s why we decided to look into the science behind it.”
Rotenberg compares the trend to buying reading glasses online without consulting an eye doctor. “What if the problem is more serious? Cataracts? Glaucoma? You’d miss a real health issue by relying on a quick fix.”
Dr. Mark Boulos, a sleep specialist at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, agrees. He says that snoring and mouth breathing can point to deeper problems. “Snoring isn’t just about stuffy noses. It’s often a sign of sleep apnea,” Boulos noted. He also pointed out that mouth taping doesn’t appear in any international sleep treatment guidelines.
Both doctors urge anyone with sleep problems—especially snoring, dry mouth, or poor rest—to talk to a healthcare provider before trying mouth taping.
