A dangerous trend has gone viral on the TikTok platform, urging users to sleep with their mouths covered by adhesive tape under the promise of improving rest and mitigating snoring.
Given this practice, sleep medicine experts issued a health alert, emphasizing that there is no solid scientific evidence to support such benefits. And worse yet, the habit carries serious health risks.
Specialists reaffirm that nasal breathing is the healthiest way, since the nose acts as a natural allergen filter.
Although breathing through the mouth causes dryness, bad breath and sore throat, doctors are unanimous: adhesive tape is not a valid solution to correct this dysfunction.
The studies that have been carried out on this method are few and minimal in scale. The potential risks, however, are tangible.
According to La Nación, among the most serious dangers are the worsening of disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea and the possibility of asphyxiation in extreme situations where a respiratory escape route is impeded.
Health professionals insist that habitual mouth breathing should not be ignored. It may be a sign of sleep apnea, a condition that impairs rest and has long-term consequences on cardiovascular and cognitive health.
The solution for efficient night breathing does not involve an improvised home remedy. There are effective and safe alternatives, such as mouthguards designed to keep the airways open or Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) devices, used to treat severe apnea.
The primary recommendation is not to ignore the symptoms of bad night breathing and, instead, undergo diagnostic tests.
Furthermore, improving breathing involves adopting proven healthy habits, such as weight control or quitting tobacco.
Sleep health admits no viral shortcuts.
