The bizarre social media trend of “mouth taping” to stop snoring can lead to “serious health harm”, researchers are warning.
Celebrities and influencers including Gwyneth Paltrow, Emma Roberts, Ashley Graham, and Jimmy Fallon have all previously spoken about their adoption of the practice, which involves going to sleep with a piece of tape holding your lips closed.
Backers say it prevents mouth-breathing, which is linked to sleep-disordered breeding, including everything from snoring to sleep apnea.
However, researchers say the online fad probably has little benefit and could pose serious asphyxiation risks.
Western University’s Dr Brian Rotenberg and a number of research colleagues evaluated the results of 10 separate studies into the effects of sealing the mouth while sleeping.
Two suggested that, among a subset of people with mild obstructive sleep apnea, mouth taping may be associated with some slight improvement in a standard measure of sleep apnea severity known as the apnea-hypopnea index.
However, other studies found no evidence that mouth taping might help treat mouth breathing, sleep-disordered breathing, or sleep apnea.
Four of the 10 studies included discussion of a potentially serious risk of asphyxiation for people whose mouth breathing is caused by serious restriction or blockage of nasal airways.
Serious nasal obstruction could result from conditions such as hay fever, chronic rhinitis, deviated septum, sinonasal disease, or enlarged tonsils.
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The authors of the new survey, published in the journal PLOS One, found the evidence currently supports the practice of mouth-taping, but said further research was needed.
“Mouth taping is a contemporary practice that is often celebrity-endorsed, but is not necessarily scientifically accurate,” the authors said.
“Many people are not appropriate for mouth taping, and in some cases it can lead to risk of serious health harm.”
