When it comes to sleeping, not everyone is the same. Though there are hundreds of tips, and tricks to help you sleep better, you might find that most of the techniques suggested don’t work for you. A lack of sleep can cause stress and frustration, which is where mouth taping for sleeping could help those who breathe through their mouths rather than their nose while sleeping.
What is Mouth Taping?
Mouth taping is when you tape your mouth shut to seal your lips in a closed position while you sleep. You remove the tape as soon as you wake up so that it doesn’t interfere with eating, talking, or other activities during the day.
Most people prefer surgical tape because it doesn’t leave any sticky residue and is usually hypoallergenic. In some cases, people use their saliva to moisten the tape before applying it to the lips, but this can sometimes lead to a buildup of bacteria that causes infections over time.
How Mouth Taping Works
In mouth taping, your mouth is forced closed so that you breathe only through your nose. It ensures proper breathing mechanics throughout the night.
When you breathe through your nose, it forces you to use your diaphragm for proper respiration. It is known as diaphragmatic breath or abdominal breathing.
When you breathe through your mouth regularly (or chronically), you prevent your body from using its natural breathing mechanism, leading to numerous health problems including cavities, sleep apnea, chronic fatigue, and sinus infections. When you breathe through your mouth, you leave your body open to unfiltered bacteria and you use a completely different set of muscles for breathing than when you breathe through the nose.
Mouth Taping Benefits
There are many benefits associated with keeping the mouth closed during sleep, which help prevent dry mouth. Breathing through the nose will increase your oxygen intake and prevent an influx of bacteria from entering your body through the oral cavity.
But why should we stop ourselves from sleeping with our mouths open? Let’s look at why it might be beneficial to tape up your mouth tonight!
1. It can help you breathe more deeply
While some people breathe through their mouths when they’re awake, breathing through your nose while sleeping is more common. Mouth taping may prevent breathing through your mouth when you’re asleep, with possible benefits.
Nasal breathing correlated with greater parasympathetic nervous system activation controls bodily functions during rest periods. It supports deeper, slower breaths that promote restfulness and relaxation.
2. It may improve your sleep quality.
Many people use mouth tape to improve their sleep quality by reducing the number of times they wake up at night which leads to an enhanced mood and increased day time productivity.
3. Boosts energy
Breathing through the mouth while sleeping can cause you to wake up feeling exhausted. Proper mouth taping helps you breathe through the nose, allowing you to sleep deeper and wake up feeling refreshed and ready for the day. By breathing through the nose, you use your diaphragm, which is more efficient and requires less of your body’s energy. When you use the diaphragm for breathing, it massages your internal organs, improving blood flow and the oxygen distribution needed for energy throughout the body.
4. Oral hygiene
When you sleep with your mouth open, you expose your mouth and teeth to bacteria. This can lead to increased bacteria on the tongue, which can cause bad breath, cavities and even gum disease. Taping your mouth will prevent these bacteria from entering when you sleep, which can improve oral health overall.
5. Prevents dry mouth
Mouth taping can also prevent dry mouth. If you are breathing through your nose, the air you breathe will be more humidified and moist. When you breathe through your nose, your mouth and throat stays moisturized.
6. Prevents snoring
Proper breathing through your nose can help prevent snoring. A narrow airway caused by blocked nasal passages can lead to snoring. Snoring occurs when the soft palate and lower jaw relax during sleep. When the mouth is taped, the angle of the palate and the tongue will change over time leading to decreased snoring.
Mouth Taping Isn’t for Everyone
Whether or not you decide mouth taping is right for you, it is always important to prioritize your sleep. Getting proper rest for 6 to 8 hours every night helps to minimize adverse health side effects. You are also going to need a healthy mattress that properly supports your body. Shop our certified organic mattresses now.
