How mouth-taping sleep hack could reduce snoring – but beware of side effects

Mouth-taping is purported to provide many health benefits relating to sleeping and oral health, but could also be dangerous for some people

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An advert on eBay shows mouth patches being used to encourage nose breathing while sleeping. Photo: ebay.co.uk/@evansm_5354

Published: 6:15pm, 12 Jan 2025

It feels like every month there is a new tip that social media says will change your life. Whether it is a travel hack, a meditation technique or a new health trick, social media influencers have something to say.

One of the newest “hacks”, mouth-taping, is purported to improve respiratory and oral health, while reducing the risk of obstructive sleep apnoea, a condition that causes abnormal breathing during sleep.

The trend is just what it sounds like – advising people to adhere any household tape to their mouth before bed. You are then forced to breathe through your nose, mitigating many of the supposed risks of mouth breathing all night.

Supporters of mouth-taping say it eases snoring, fatigue, bad breath, excessive thirst and concentration issues. However, none of these claims have been scientifically studied.

Breathing through the mouth while sleeping is less healthy than breathing through the nose. Photo: Shutterstock

Others claim mouth-taping has a cosmetic benefit, reducing face wrinkles and creating a “snatched” jawline. These claims also are unsubstantiated.

According to the US-based Sleep Foundation, which provides sleep advice and product reviews, mouth-taping can be beneficial in reducing snoring, particularly for people with mild sleep apnoea. However, researchers have not seen the practice affect snoring of people without the condition.