Perhaps this is an odd question, but I’m genuinely curious. Here’s some context:
I had no idea until recently why someone would put tape on their mouth while sleeping, but then I heard someone mention that it really helped their snoring and clenching, two things I do almost every night.
That alone made me intrigued to try the tape, but before I do, I’m curious if you’ve tried it. In particular, I’m curious if it feels weird to tape your mouth with someone else next to you in bed (and is it weird for them)? And despite the weirdness, has it actually helped you (or someone you know)?
Out of curiosity, have you ever had a sleep study done? If so, and there were no underlying causes/findings to your snoring and clenching, I would definitely do a bit of deep research online about the practice before trying it, as it can be dangerous to some. It’s especially dangerous if you have an undiagnosed sleeping disorder. If you haven’t had a sleep study done, I would highly recommend doing so!
Thanks for the recommendation! I have a friend who ran sleep studies for a long time, though I’ve never had one.
I’m seconding what Garrett said. I work in healthcare, and almost always side with the caution of: If you have a problem that is affecting you in any way, schedule an appointment and talk it out with your primary doctor. Mouth tape is a good “quick fix,” but like most quick fixes, it can be more detrimental in the long run. My wife uses a CPAP machine at night, we would be more than happy to answer any questions you may have if a doctor recommends one!
Thank you! So far I’ve talked to an ENT about the snoring (which is for around 30 minutes a night) and my dentist about clenching (she made a mouthguard, but I’m not able to sleep with it on).
Yes, I’ve been taping every night for a few years now. I had a sleep study done a long time ago and I have very light sleep apnea. This study is unrelated to my decision to use tape at night, but with the other comments, I thought it was worth mentioning. I chose to start taping my mouth because my jaw tends to relax and fall open when I sleep, causing me to snore. This bothers my partner, and potentially me as well. With tape, it’s exceedingly rare for me to snore now (I have to be sick or something else has to be going on). A bonus effect is my nasal airways are now more clear throughout the day and evenings, perhaps due to the additional, predictable use.
It did take quite a while to get used to it. I don’t use any brand name tape, just 1/2 inch 3M Durapore Surgical Tape (it’s very cheap). I first tried a single strip down the middle of my mouth, but I tended to breathe through the side of my mouth. So I quickly learned to use two strips, essentially dividing my mouth in thirds. Your habits and jaw strength may differ. The tape will feel weird at first. You’ll want to make it a little tight, but not too tight, and that’s going to feel uncomfortable (in the weird-feeling way, not “uncomfortable as a euphemism for painful”). It didn’t take long for it to feel normal, and getting better sleep for myself and my partner was inspiration enough.
My partner also tapes up. It’s not as necessary, but she says it helps her sleep (she does infrequently snore). We have a ritual that feels more normal than comical now. We tape up, and enjoy a brief, amusing tape-kiss, then turn over to finish reading or fall asleep. It’s all part of embracing our eccentricities as our bodies get older.
Thanks so much for sharing, Joe!