Mouth Taping and Why It’s Trending

Mouth taping can be used under the guidance of a myofunctional therapist to force nasal breathing instead of mouth breathing.  However, lately, it has become a viral trend where people are doing it themselves!  They are using tape to seal their lips shut while sleeping.

The internet claims it helps with better sleep quality, reduced snoring, prevention of dry mouth, more defined jawline and relief from sleep apnea. While some of these benefits may have a kernel of truth, the risks of doing this yourself far outweigh the results. According to the Cleveland Clinic, mouth taping can actually harm your breathing and delay real diagnosis.

It will not reshape your jawline

Proper tongue posture (called mewing) may help young kids develop healthy oral habits—but no study proves that taping your mouth changes facial structure.

If you’re looking to improve facial balance, explore orthodontic options like: aligners, clear braces, traditional braces.  These can help properly guide jaw growth, fix bite issues, and align your smile—safely and predictably.  If you have oral habits, or breathe through your mouth, the help of a myofunctional therapist can help break these habits and train your oral muscles in a manner that allows nasal breathing and can also improve facial balance.

Mouth taping without supervision of a trained professional can lead to death!

Rare but real, the risk is real for people with undiagnosed sleep disorders, heart conditions, panic or anxiety during sleep. WebMD and Sleep Foundation warn that DIY trends like these may delay proper diagnosis and treatment, putting lives at risk.

Does Mouth Taping Help with Snoring?

In some mild cases, taping the mouth may reduce snoring caused by open-mouth posture. But again—it’s not a fix. You’re better off identifying the root cause.

At Great Smiles Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, we evaluate oral airway size, palate width, tongue posture, nasal breathing function. For children who snore or mouth breathe, we may recommend a combined team approach of palatal expanders in our office, a sleep study with a specialist, and a consult with a myofunctional therapist, to open the airway, improve nasal breathing, and prevent long-term health issues.

Summary

• Is mouth taping safe? 

  • Not always. It may cause breathing difficulties and worsen sleep apnea.

• What is mouth taping for? 

  • To force nasal breathing at night. But this can be dangerous if you have nasal blockages or sleep apnea.

• Does mouth taping help the jawline?

  • No. Orthodontic treatment is required to change bone structure.

• Is mouth taping good for you?

  • Only in very specific cases with medical supervision. For most people, the risks outweigh the benefits.

• Does mouth taping actually work? 

  • Not reliably. Short-term snoring relief has been reported—but no long-term clinical evidence exists.

We understand the appeal of viral health trends. But when it comes to your sleep, breathing, and facial development—DIY fixes like mouth taping just don’t cut it.