The TikTok trend your patients are bringing in – and how to handle it

TikTok, Instagram, and health blogs are exploding with it: people are literally taping their mouths shut at night—supposedly for better sleep, more energy, and less snoring.

Sounds like just another viral health trend at first... but a recent 2025 systematic review of 10 different studies has finally looked into the actual science behind it.

Why are people taping their mouths shut anyway?

The idea is actually pretty simple: When we breathe through our nose instead of our mouth, our body filters and humidifies the air better. Nasal breathing also activates the parasympathetic nervous system – the part of your nervous system responsible for rest and regeneration.

Some fans report:

• They wake up more rested
• They snore less
• Their mouth isn't dry anymore in the morning
• They feel overall "clearer" and more relaxed

Sounds like some kind of tape magic. But does it actually work?

The Potential Benefits of Mouth Taping

1. Promoting Nasal Breathing: Your nose is a genuine bio-wonder: it warms, filters, and purifies the air. Taping encourages this natural pattern, provided your nasal passages are actually clear.
2. Less Mouth Dryness: Many people wake up with a dry mouth from open-mouth breathing. The studies confirm that mouth leaks are significantly reduced when the mouth is occluded.
3. Potentially Less Snoring: For some, snoring is tied to mouth breathing. Research shows a significant reduction in the Snoring Index for specific groups

But hold on – what are the risks?

Here's where it gets serious: Mouth taping isn't for everyone. The 2025 review warns that there is a potentially serious risk of harm for individuals who try this blindly.