Social media influencers keep sharing life-changing experiences. If you use one of these popular platforms, you must have seen videos promoting sleep accessories like mouth tapes. While the main objective of such medical-grade items is sleep enhancement, some claim improvement in cavities, gum illness, digestion, mood, skin, and bad breath. A few also talk about stronger immunity. The primary purpose of a simple hack like mouth taping is to shut the lips while sleeping to facilitate easy breathing through the nostrils. Does mouth-taping help, or is it social media hype? Let’s probe into this area.
- Mouth taping for nasal breathing
Swallowing and voice experts reveal that mouth tape comes in handy in reducing the incidents of snoring while aiding respiration through the nose. Using the nose for breathing is the healthiest way compared to using the mouth. When you breathe from the nose, you receive clean and humid air, and your lower lungs activate. It enables you to breathe long and deep. As you do this, your body feels relaxed, letting you sleep well. Sleep specialists harp that nasal breathing impedes the entry of dust, pathogens, and allergens into the system. As a result, the risk of allergies and infections remains lower. Your sinuses create nitric oxide-like gas that travels down to the blood from the lungs. This process controls blood pressure by widening blood vessels. Because of this, blood circulation improves. As you know, healthy blood flow also contributes to healthy sleep.
Sleeping with an open mouth can cause dryness, bad breath, cavities, impacted voice quality, and cracked lips. So, you can expect to enjoy these additional advantages.
- A little probing into the efficacy of mouth-taping
While there is much to be examined and evaluated, one of the recent small studies on 30 mild sleep apnea patients demonstrated a positive impact on apnea and snoring. On a different note, sleep specialists emphasize that some people use the mouth for breathing during sleep because they cannot breathe through their nose. They need a health checkup by an ENT as their problem is probably induced by deviated septum or nasal polyps. Nevertheless, mild cases of sleep deprivation can rely on tapes. Otherwise, it’s better to consult a physician before taping the mouth.
Remember, proper sleep can help with weight management, preventing the risk of developing chronic ailments like diabetes.
Sleep accessories like these have far-reaching benefits. However, the experience depends on choosing the right product. Many companies offer these sleep solutions. Please select one that cares for your skin and is convenient to use. Opt for hypoallergenic and latex-free tapes. These minimize the risk of skin allergies and irritation. Also, read instructions before jumping into the product. They usually instruct you to put one vertically in the middle section of the lips. One must ensure it sits in its place well before retiring. It should be removed the next day morning after waking up. During removal, rolling the strip slowly from one end is necessary. Although sound-quality products ensure proper safety, you may still want to be careful to avoid any risk of irritation. Dispose of it once removed.