Taping Your Mouth Shut for Sleep Apnea Is Not a Good Idea

People will go to extreme lengths to get a good night’s sleep, from lavender-scented lotions to herbal potions. People with sleep disorders are always searching for that magic bullet that allows them to get a whole night’s sleep and wake refreshed the following day. However, some sleep strategies are more dangerous than others.

Read this before you run out to the hardware store and buy duct tape because a social media feed said taping your mouth shut before bed is the key to addressing your sleep apnea issues. Taping your mouth shut is not the cheap and innovative solution you seek.

What Is Sleep Apnea?

The most common form of sleep apnea is Obstructive Sleep Apnea or OSA. Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when there is a physical blockage of a person’s airway, causing repeated interruptions in breathing during sleep throughout the night. The blockage is often caused when the soft tissue at the back of the throat collapses during sleep.

Sleep apnea can significantly impact the quality of a person’s sleep by interrupting the body’s normal sleep cycle. This can lead to frequent awakenings, breathing issues, and snoring.

What Is Mouth Taping for Sleep Apnea?

Some people started a popular trend called mouth taping to help treat sleep apnea. The idea is that when a person tapes their mouth shut at bedtime, it forces the body to breathe through the nose and not the mouth. Anecdotally, people say it stops snoring and other issues associated with mouth breathing during sleep. However, taping your mouth shut is not a cheap and accessible magic cure.

Putting tape over the mouth can make it even harder to breathe. This sleep “solution” can be a significant concern in people with sinus issues or other conditions that make breathing through the nose more challenging during sleep. It can also lead to reduced levels of oxygen. More importantly, mouth taping is not a proven, effective way to treat any existing health issue, especially sleep apnea.

Excessive snoring can be a sign of sleep apnea, so individuals who try mouth taping to control snoring are masking the signs of a chronic, treatable sleep condition with the right tools. Those tools do not include tape.

There are also several other issues with using tape to keep the mouth closed at night. Issues associated with mouth taping include:

• Redness and skin irritation around the mouth from the tape adhesive
• Breakouts
• Bad breath
• Dry mouth
• Cavities and gum disease
• Disordered breathing
• Reduced oxygen levels
• Discomfort
• Pain removing the tape (especially those with facial hair)

Some individuals may also experience anxiety from having their mouths taped shut, which may make it harder to fall asleep. Mouth taping can also be dangerous when a person consumes alcohol or sedatives, has heart or lung issues, nasal or sinus problems, or is suffering from a cold.

A Tape-Free Night Is a Phone Call Away

Legitimate medical solutions can address sleep apnea and help you rest more easily. At Silent Night Therapy of Babylon Dental Care, our caring staff can help you get to the bottom of your sleep issues and offer practical solutions and lifestyle advice to put you on the road to dreamland.

Call 631-983-2463 today to schedule a complimentary sleep consultation.