What is Mouth taping, the trend of taping your mouth to sleep ?

This method encourages nasal breathing during sleep.

This is a trend among many athletes. Like the British Adam Burgess, silver medalist in canoe kayak slalom at the 2024 Olympics, some attribute part of their performances to the fact of taping their mouths to sleep better. What are these athletes looking for with such a method ? What does science say about it ?

Interviewed by Skysports, the British kayaker explains that nasal breathing allows him to maximize his sleep, mental performance and recovery. To do this, he uses "mouth taping" which could be translated as “mouth taping”.

What is Mouth taping ?

“Mouth taping” consists of blocking your mouth with adhesive tape adapted to the skin to encourage nasal breathing during sleep. Proponents of this method cite several potential benefits, such as lowering blood pressure, reducing anxiety, or filtering out allergens…

Conversely, mouth breathing can lead to side effects like dry mouth and bad breath. It is also often associated with snoring and a symptom of sleep apnea.

Is it really effective… and safe ?

For Dr. Cinthya Pena Orbea, a sleep specialist at the Cleveland Clinic, “most of the scientific evidence is anecdotal. There is not enough strong evidence to support that mouth taping is beneficial." An early study of 36 asthma patients showed no signs of change in their condition after using mouth taping. Another study from 2022 found that while sleeping, people who were taped continued to try to breathe through their mouths and ended up gasping for air.

Duct tape is therefore not without its dangers. “Taping your mouth impairs your ability to take deep, full breaths“, continues Dr. Cinthya Pena Orbea. “Additionally, you may also experience skin irritation, allergic reaction, or rash from using the wrong type of tape.”