Mouth Taping for Sleep Apnea: A Comprehensive Guide
Key Takeaways
- Individuals taping their mouths to sleep has become a popular trend recently. This technique encourages a user to breathe through their nose rather than their mouth while asleep.
- Taping the mouth has a few benefits, including reduced snoring and bad breath.
- However, mouth taping may come with a few side effects, and if you have sleep apnea, it may not be the best option to reduce your symptoms. Learn more in this article.
Mouth taping for sleep apnea is one solution that many patients turn to for reduce some of the symptoms of sleep apnea. How effective and how safe mouth taping for sleep is should be a consideration for anyone thinking about trying this approach.
What is Mouth Taping for Sleep Apnea?
Mouth taping for sleep apnea involves applying special adhesive tape over the mouth while asleep. This approach prevents mouth-breathing while promoting healthier nose breathing and reduces some of the symptoms of sleep apnea. For mild sleep apnea cases, mouth taping may help reduce one of the most distinctive symptoms of sleep apnea—snoring.
For more severe cases of sleep apnea, patients should look to their doctor for recommendations. Most likely patients will have to begin the most common treatment for sleep apnea, CPAP therapy. In some instances, doctors may recommend oral appliances to help curb symptoms as well as suggest changes in lifestyle to improve sleep.
Benefits of Mouth Taping for Sleep
Health professionals agree that nose-breathing is better for your health. Mouth taping can help encourage nose breathing during sleep, which can help your body effectively filter out allergens and airborne particles as well as keep your nose moisture and temperature at healthier levels.
Along with reducing snoring, mouth taping can help patients who sleep on their backs. You are more likely to mouth breath in this sleeping position and mouth taping allows patients to comfortably sleep in this position while breathing more effectively through their nose.
If agreed upon by your doctor, mouth taping can help with overall sleep hygiene and may reduce your dependency on CPAP therapy to curb symptoms of sleep apnea. It also helps patients with dry mouth, and can also be used in conjunction with CPAP therapy to improve adherence and compliance.
Is Using Mouth Tape While Sleeping Safe?
Mouth taping may not be for everyone. Sleep apnea patients should never consider mouth taping a solution without first consulting with their doctor. They may be bypassing more effective options and prolonging the ill effects of sleep apnea.
Mouth taping can also cause anxiety in some people who may be uncomfortable having their mouth taped. Other people may have difficulty breathing through their nose if they have chronic congestion or allergies, which can make sleep worse.
Avoid mouth taping if:
- You have a nasal infection that makes breathing through the nose difficult
- You have pre-existing sinus or nasal problems
- You have severe lung or heart issues
- You are overweight and struggle with breathing while asleep
- You use alcohol or sedatives
If you choose to try mouth taping, be sure not to use household adhesive tape. Look for medical-grade adhesive tape at the pharmacy which is designed specifically for use on human skin. If you have skin irritation you may have to look for hypoallergenic tape. You can also explore options like breathing strips which offer more breathability than tape.
Does Mouth Taping Work for Sleep Apnea?
The scientific evidence on mouth taping for sleep apnea in inconclusive. Some anecdotal research, however, notes that people with mild sleep apnea who often breathed through their mouth at night found mouth taping helped them snore less. Other studies of people with mild sleep apnea found mouth taping reduced snoring, especially in people who slept on their backs.
One study of 71 people with severe sleep apnea who mouth taped one night still tried to breathe through their mouth. The studies, while not hard evidence, shows that for milder cases of sleep apnea mouth taping may work. For more severe cases of sleep apnea, patients should seek out proven treatments such as CPAP therapy.
How to Tape Your Mouth For Sleep
- Choose a medical-grade tape, preferably one designed for mouth-taping
- Tape over the mouth with one or two strips
- See if you experience any discomfort or difficulty breathing. If so, do not mouth tape.
- If you experience any skin irritation, choose a skin-sensitive tape or use lotion or oil underneath the tape in the areas around the mouth where the tape is applied.
You can also fold one corner of the tape, so it is more easily removed in the morning.
Potential Side Effects of Mouth Taping
Discomfort or Irritation: Tape can be hurtful to the skin. Try skin-sensitive tapes and never use household tape not meant for the skin.
Difficulty Breathing: If you have problems breathing through your nose mouth taping may not be for you. If the difficulty breathing is due to a temporary cold, then wait until you are better to try mouth taping.
Mouth Breathing Issues: You may find that you are still trying to breathe through your mouth. Give it some time and see if you can adjust to nose-breathing.
Increased Anxiety: If having your mouth taped causes anxiety, you should not use this approach.
Risk of Allergic Reactions: If the tape causes skin-based allergic reactions, you can choose a hypoallergenic medical grade tape.
Inadequate for Severe Cases: For severe cases of sleep apnea, mouth taping is probably not an adequate solution. Speak to your doctor about CPAP therapy or other medically proven treatments.
Alternatives to Mouth Taping for Sleep Apnea
While mouth taping can be a solution in some cases, most sleep apnea patients may find CPAP therapy to be a more effective and long-lasting treatment. Patients who choose CPAP have options here as well.
CPAP machines provide pressurized air that keeps the airway open during sleep to prevent sleep apnea symptoms.
APAP machines provide automatically adjusted pressurized air for patients who have difficulty with CPAP.
BiPAP machines alter breathing pressure for exhalation so patients can more comfortably stay CPAP compliant.
Other sleep apnea alternatives are available including oral appliances worn in the mouth are some of the other approaches for keeping the airway open without using a CPAP machine.
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ResMed AirCurve 10 VAuto BiLevel Machine - Card-to-CloudDiscontinued Parts Available -
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Mouth Taping vs. Other Sleep Apnea Treatments
| Mouth Taping | Other Sleep Apnea Treatments |
| Less expensive | More effective for moderate to severe sleep apnea |
| May be beneficial for mild cases of sleep apnea | Most commonly recommended treatment by doctors |
| Does not require a prescription | No risk of anxiety from mouth taping |
The CPAP Shop always recommends speaking to your doctor before changing your treatment. In some instances, mild cases of sleep apnea can easily be treated with mouth taping and other sleep habit modifications. For more severe cases your doctor can recommend sleep apnea treatment alternatives that will fit your specific needs.
Consulting a Professional
While mouth taping does not require a prescription it is still a good idea to consult with your doctor. Other health concerns may pose a problem for mouth taping. Or the severity of your sleep apnea may make mouth taping inadequate as a treatment.
Ask your doctor about all the options you have for treatment and if mouth taping will work for you. You may be able to use mouth taping along with an oral appliance to improve effectiveness.
Conclusion
While taping for sleep is an option for some sleep apnea patients it may not be enough if you have a severe case. If you choose mouth taping, be sure to use the correct product and use it safely. Always speak to your doctor first. Mouth taping may or may not be the right choice for you. If not, there are many effective and proven sleep apnea treatments to help you sleep better.
