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    1. Dentistry

    Mouth taping for sleep: Dos, don'ts, and tips

    April 3, 2023
    As mouth taping for sleep gains more traction, so does misinformation about the practice. Sleep expert Teresa Power DeNike breaks down what mouth taping can do, and what it should not be used for.
    116611768 © Seventyfourimages | Dreamstime.com
    For dental professionals: Before you tout mouth taping to your patients…

    For dental professionals: Before you tout mouth taping to your patients…

    Mouth taping can help many patients with different issues and conditions. But there are certain patients who should be evaluated or referred to other medical professionals first:

    ✓ Patients who snore should always be screened for sleep apnea, and then treated by a sleep dentist, internal medicine physician, pulmonologist, and/or board-certified sleep physician.

    ✓ Patients with enlarged tonsils or tongue causing obstruction should seek treatment from an ENT.

    ✓ Patients who have issues with nasal breathing during the day or during sleep could experience a feeling of claustrophobia or choking when using mouth tape.

    ✓ Patients who regularly use opioids may have a reduced ability to breathe safely during sleep.

    Slide 9 of 9

    Why are teens, athletes, influencers, and CEOs putting tape across their mouths to sleep? It’s not a cosmetic glow-up, a pop culture fad, or a political statement; people are taping their mouths to improve sleep and overall health. But as with anything new, the unknowns can create a situation where people try it without really knowing how or why.

    In this gallery, you’ll learn what mouth taping really can do; tips for you and your patients for appropriately using mouth tape; and what it should not be used for, or won't help. (Note: Anyone thinking of trying mouth taping for sleep should consult their doctor to rule out underlying or untreated conditions such as obstructive sleep apnea.)

    *Images of mouth tape courtesy of SomniFix

    More content by sleep expert Teresa Power DeNike:

    Mouth taping for sleep: A TikTok trend with merit

    Fitness tips that can help your sleep, from a sleep expert

    Sleep divorce? How a sleep apnea appliance can save your marriage

    References

    1. Nunez K. What are the advantages of nose breathing vs. mouth breathing? Healthline. Accessed March 28, 2023. https://www.healthline.com/health/nose-breathing
    1. Coleman JW. Nitric oxide in immunity and inflammation. Int Immunopharmacol. 2001;1(8):1397-1406. doi:10.1016/s1567-5769(01)00086-8
    1. Russo M, Santarelli D, O’Rourke D. The physiological effects of slow breathing in the healthy human. Breathe (Sheff). 2017;13(4):298–309. doi:10.1183/20734735.009817
    1. Summer J. Mouth taping for sleep. Sleep Foundation. Accessed March 28, 2023. https://www.sleepfoundation.org/snoring/mouth-taping-for-sleep#:~:text=What%20Kind%20of%20Tape%20to,irritation%20or%20an%20allergic%20reaction
    1. Lee Y, Lu C, Cheng W, Li H. The impact of mouth-taping in mouth-breathers with mild obstructive sleep apnea: a preliminary study. Healthcare (Basel). 2022;10(9):1755. doi:10.3390/healthcare10091755
    1. Morning headaches? Sleep apnea could be the cause. University Hospitals. Accessed March 28, 2023. https://www.uhhospitals.org/blog/articles/2023/03/morning-headaches-sleep-apnea-could-be-the-cause