<p class="bodytext">Sleep specialists in Bengaluru say there is no scientific backing to mouth taping, a social media trend that claims to improve sleep, snoring, oral health and even the shape of the jawline.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Mouth taping requires going to bed with your mouth taped in a bid to promote nasal breathing. There are thousands of posts on Instagram accompanied with #mouthtaping. E-commerce sites are filled with options for ‘anti-snoring’ sleep strips, marketed as medical grade, breathable and safe.</p>.<p class="bodytext">But except for two small studies abroad that showed people with mild obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) snored less when they slept with a tape or patch on their lips, there is little or no conclusive evidence of its efficacy. OSA is a sleep disorder in which breathing halts repeatedly.</p>.Dry weather sparks skin woes in Bengaluru; fancy products complicate issues.<p class="bodytext">Dr Manjunath H K, sleep specialist and pulmonologist, views it as “a futile exercise”. “In OSA, the problem lies in the pharynx. So even if, hypothetically speaking, mouth taping helps you sleep better a few times, it doesn’t solve the root cause,” he says.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Nasal breathing is the natural, physiological way. People tend to breathe from the mouth when there are blockages in the airway or further down.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“But the question is who qualifies for this? If you are blocking breathing via the mouth and also have some kind of blockage in the nose, it’s a safety hazard,” says pulmonologist Dr Ravindra Mehta. He also warns that the frequent use of tape on the mouth may lead to skin irritation.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Pulmonologist Dr Sachin Kumar says children, elderly citizens and people with cardiac issues, diabetes, and fluctuating blood pressure must never <br />attempt mouth taping for it can cause suffocation.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“People struggling with snoring should consult a medical professional rather than trying unsubstantiated hacks. It can be treated with lifestyle changes and sometimes with the treatment of underlying causes, such as allergies and sleep apnea,” he advises.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Sleep specialists in Bengaluru say there is no scientific backing to mouth taping, a social media trend that claims to improve sleep, snoring, oral health and even the shape of the jawline.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Mouth taping requires going to bed with your mouth taped in a bid to promote nasal breathing. There are thousands of posts on Instagram accompanied with #mouthtaping. E-commerce sites are filled with options for ‘anti-snoring’ sleep strips, marketed as medical grade, breathable and safe.</p>.<p class="bodytext">But except for two small studies abroad that showed people with mild obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) snored less when they slept with a tape or patch on their lips, there is little or no conclusive evidence of its efficacy. OSA is a sleep disorder in which breathing halts repeatedly.</p>.Dry weather sparks skin woes in Bengaluru; fancy products complicate issues.<p class="bodytext">Dr Manjunath H K, sleep specialist and pulmonologist, views it as “a futile exercise”. “In OSA, the problem lies in the pharynx. So even if, hypothetically speaking, mouth taping helps you sleep better a few times, it doesn’t solve the root cause,” he says.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Nasal breathing is the natural, physiological way. People tend to breathe from the mouth when there are blockages in the airway or further down.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“But the question is who qualifies for this? If you are blocking breathing via the mouth and also have some kind of blockage in the nose, it’s a safety hazard,” says pulmonologist Dr Ravindra Mehta. He also warns that the frequent use of tape on the mouth may lead to skin irritation.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Pulmonologist Dr Sachin Kumar says children, elderly citizens and people with cardiac issues, diabetes, and fluctuating blood pressure must never <br />attempt mouth taping for it can cause suffocation.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“People struggling with snoring should consult a medical professional rather than trying unsubstantiated hacks. It can be treated with lifestyle changes and sometimes with the treatment of underlying causes, such as allergies and sleep apnea,” he advises.</p>