Reviewers screened 120 taping studies, thin evidence for sleep

Reviewers screened 120 articles on mouth taping for sleep and breathing and kept ten studies with 213 patients in total, in a systematic review that searched MEDLINE, Embase and Google Scholar from February 1999 to February 2024.

Only randomized controlled trials and prospective studies with measured and reported outcomes made the cut. Two of the ten found clear improvement in apnea markers such as apnea hypopnea index or oxygen desaturations worth tracking nightly The remaining included studies found no differences with mouth taping and raised potential risks including asphyxiation when nasal obstruction is present.

Most studies left out people with nasal obstruction or pathology. The review lists allergic rhinitis, adenoidal and tonsillar hypertrophy and deviation of the nasal septum among common reasons for mouth breathing. The authors say further studies are needed to clarify any clinical benefit for the routine. The right patient selection, tape type, duration and safety monitoring remain unknown, if any benefit exists.

A 2024 study in JAMA Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery measured airflow during mouth occlusion in more than 50 patients. Total airflow rose on average but responses varied, and some patients with the poorest airflow showed distinct worsening with mouth occlusion. Small nonrandomized and uncontrolled studies of mouth taping show mixed results with possible less snoring and sleep apnea in some mild cases of airflow limitation

That mixed result counts when tape sits next to your toothbrush. Reducing airflow with mouth tape can be harmful for those with a narrowed or obstructed airway, and may increase cardiovascular strain from oxygen drops during sleep. If you live with cardiovascular disease or diagnosed sleep apnea, skip mouth taping entirely, as poor sleep from apnea can bring strong fatigue, sleepiness, insomnia and problems with thinking.

Adults with obstructive sleep apnea are usually treated with a continuous positive airway pressure machine, but many people struggle with adherence because of discomfort. That shortfall helps explain interest in simpler nighttime steps. We do not have a lot of good, quality evidence to support mouth taping nightly, a sleep clinician interviewed by CU Anschutz said. Sleep clinicians note nasal breathing may help some people with mild limitation, but nightly results vary by individual.

Whether mouth taping shapes long term cardiovascular, cognitive and quality of life outcomes is not shown in the evidence reviewed. For now, watch for larger trials with clear safety screening, and for guidance that separates mild snoring from diagnosed breathing disorders during sleep.

For a steady night routine, put assessment first and tape last, and track how the nose feels, how breathing sounds, and how the morning starts.