User:Psax/sandbox/MT

Mouth Taping (MT) for sleep is supposed to be a method that is believed by its proponents to have many benefits, such as improving sleep quality or alleviating symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, there are no quality studies on the effects of MT and experts warn against it.

Mouth Taping emerged in 2022 as a rapidly growing popular trend on TikTok. It involves taping the mouth overnight to keep the lips pursed and encourage breathing through the nose.

Benefits
MT is said to help, for example, with:
 * symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
 * sleep-disordered breathing
 * dry mouth
 * reducing tooth decay
 * reducing gum disease
 * quality of breath (bad breath)
 * stunted growth in children
 * reduced cognitive abilities
 * reduction of snoring
 * lowering blood pressure
 * filtering allergens
 * regulating breathing temperature
 * reducing anxiety

Study
However, there are no quality studies to support these claims. One small study found that mouth taping reduced snoring in 30 participants. However, other research on 36 asthmatics found no improvement in their condition after mouth taping. In addition, a study conducted in 2022 found that 10 individuals attempted to breathe through their mouths while asleep even after their mouths were taped. According to Dr. Federico Cerrone, a sleep medicine specialist at Atlantic Health System, in theory, mouth taping can reduce snoring and mouth breathing during sleep, but at the same time, he believes the risks outweigh the benefits. "It's incredibly dangerous and probably a quick fix instead of treating the cause."

Risks of Mouth Taping

 * Difficulty breathing
 * Worsening of sleep apnoea and its risk factors
 * Tape irritation or allergic reactions to the tape
 * Sleep disturbance

Alex Dimitriu, M.D., a doctor of psychiatry and sleep medicine, founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine and BrainfoodMD also points out that mouth breathing is needed for nasal congestion. This can occur as a result of allergies, illness or infection (such as a cold), a deviated nasal septum, or enlarged turbinates (small structures in the nose that clean and humidify air as it flows through the nasal cavity to the lungs). Dimitri warns that instead of helping breathing, MT is likely to have the opposite effect. Snoring may indicate the presence of sleep apnea, which is characterized by frequent breaths and breathing stoppages during sleep. Carleara Weiss, Aeroflow Sleep's Sleep Science Advisor and a postdoctoral fellow in sleep and circadian rhythms, warns that despite possibly reducing snoring, taping the mouth may worsen sleep apnea by making breathing more difficult. As a result, dangers such as heart attacks increase for the person. Weiss further states that the tape can itch or cause an allergic reaction on the lips and face. Dimitriu warns that in rare cases, a person could choke or vomit as a result of the tape.