Mouth Tape

Mouth tape is an adhesive tape or strip that sits over the lips to keep the mouth closed during sleep. For many sleepers, mouth tape holds or seals the mouth shut, which prompts breathing through the nose, instead of the mouth. Many mouth tapes are marketed as a way to reduce snoring or prevent the mouth from opening while using a nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine, and limited research supports those claims.

The primary benefit of using mouth tape is that it keeps the mouth closed during sleep. Initial research suggests that having the mouth closed during sleep reduces snoring, reduces sleep apnea symptoms, and can increase use of a CPAP machine in some cases. More research is needed to validate other purported benefits of keeping the mouth closed with tape overnight, which include everything from increased energy to a more chiseled jawline.

Limited research has found that mouth tape can reduce snoring and sleep apnea symptoms. Mouth tape may also improve adherence to CPAP usage among people who use a nasal mask.

However, CPAP therapy is still the first-line treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). If you have been diagnosed with OSA, use whatever treatment you have been prescribed. Do not substitute mouth tape for your prescribed treatment without first consulting with your sleep specialist. Studies have found that certain people with severe OSA react negatively to mouth taping.

If mouth tape is applied properly and a sleeper tolerates it well, they should begin breathing out of their nose during sleep immediately. Breathing through the nose instead of the mouth during sleep may immediately reduce snoring and sleep apnea episodes. Some people claim that mouth taping also provides long-term results, like a reduction in bad breath and cavities, increased energy, and changes in jaw muscles. More research is needed to identify if mouth taping helps with these issues and, if so, how long it might take to see results.

If you're unsure if mouth tape is right for you, consider talking to your primary care doctor or sleep specialist. Some mouth tape brands suggest that mouth taping isn't for everyone. For example, they state that mouth tape shouldn't be used by people who struggle to breathe through the nose, are obese, have recently drank alcohol or consumed sedatives, have heart or breathing problems, or have a cold, a sinus infection, an ear infection, or severely chapped lips.

As of yet, organizations like the American Dental Association (ADA) have not publicly commented on mouth taping, either positively or negatively. The mainstream availability of mouth tape is relatively new, so expert organizations like the ADA may be waiting for more research before they take a stance. However, multiple individual dentists have spoken up in support of mouth taping, claiming it reduces the risk of dental-related problems like teeth grinding and cavities.

Experts currently recommend CPAP therapy as the first-line treatment for sleep apnea. Research studies on mouth taping and sleep apnea are relatively new. Currently, most experts do not recommend mouth taping as a sleep apnea treatment. However, that may change as research on mouth taping and sleep apnea evolves. Talk to your sleep specialist before discontinuing CPAP therapy. Mouth taping brands do not currently suggest their products can replace CPAP therapy.