If you frequent the wellness world on social media, you may have seen a trend popular with influencers: using adhesive tape to seal one’s mouth shut while sleeping. This is intended to help the sleeper breathe through their nose all night, which people claim has a slew of benefits, including improved quality of sleep, reduced sleep apnea, a more defined jawline, and a brightened complexion. A lot of people cannot breathe through their nose,” Dr. Lee says. “They either have a deviated septum, or they have allergies, so if your body is opening its mouth to allow more oxygen, forcing it closed is not the right thing to do. Dr. Lee joins Host Flora Lichtman to talk about the right way to start nose breathing, what the scientific literature says (and doesn’t say) about mouth taping, and how social media is changing the information patients seek from their physicians. But should you add mouth taping to your nighttime routine? According to Dr. Linda Lee, physician and surgeon at Massachusetts Eye and Ear in Boston, you should be evaluated by a professional first.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!
Tuesday, May 20, 2025