Mouth taping isn't safe for everyone. It's only an option for adults who breathe easily through the nose. A 2025 systematic review of 10 studies warned of a potentially serious risk of harm for people who tape without checking first, especially with a blocked nose [1]. Test it awake, and see a GP if you snore loudly.
This guide is general information, not medical advice. If you snore loudly, stop breathing or gasp in your sleep, or have a breathing or sleep condition, talk to your doctor before trying mouth tape.
Is mouth taping safe? The short answer
Mouth taping is only reasonable to try if you're an adult with a clear nose, no sleep or breathing condition, and a tape made for skin. Even then, it isn't standard medical practice, and there are no official guidelines on how to do it safely [2]. The research is also thin in the places that matter most: many of the studies left out anyone with a blocked nose or nasal problems [1], so they tell us little about the people most likely to get into trouble.
What the research says about the risks
The research is small and low in quality, and it is far more cautious than social media. Here are the three sources most worth knowing.
| Source | What it looked at | What it found |
|---|---|---|
| Rhee et al., PLOS One, 2025 [1] | Systematic review: 10 studies, 213 patients, published 1999 to 2024 | Two studies showed improvements in sleep apnoea measures; the rest found no difference. Every study was rated poor quality, and the authors flagged a risk of asphyxiation with a blocked nose. |
| Fangmeyer et al., Am J Otolaryngol, 2025 [3] | Scoping review: 9 studies (from 177 found), plus 50 TikTok videos | Little agreement on any benefit, few TikTok claims ever tested, and no benefit in asthma. |
| Cleveland Clinic, 2025 [4] | Explainer with a paediatric sleep specialist | Lists difficulty breathing, skin irritation or allergy, anxiety and trouble sleeping as side effects. |
The 2025 review's authors summed it up bluntly: they saw "a potentially serious risk of harm for individuals indiscriminately practicing this trend" [1].
Who should never tape their mouth
Skip mouth taping altogether if any of these apply to you [2][4]:
- Your nose is blocked: a cold, a sinus infection, hay fever or chronic allergies, or a deviated septum.
- You have sleep apnoea that isn't being treated, or you snore loudly and might have it.
- You have asthma or COPD, unless your doctor says it's fine.
- You have an anxiety or panic disorder.
- You might vomit in your sleep, which includes any night after heavy drinking.
- It's for a child, unless a doctor is supervising.
- You have enlarged tonsils or a heart condition.
| Situation | OK to try? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Blocked nose or a cold | No | Taping removes your backup airway [1][2] |
| Hay fever or other allergies | Only on nights your nose is fully clear; not with chronic allergies | Chronic allergies are on Cleveland Clinic's never list [4] |
| Sleep apnoea, diagnosed or suspected | Only if your sleep physician agrees | Taping can worsen breathing disruptions if apnoea isn't treated [2] |
| Asthma or COPD | Ask your doctor first | Not advised without medical advice [2] |
| Anxiety or panic disorder | No | A sealed mouth can make anxiety worse [2][4] |
| After heavy drinking | No | Anyone at risk of vomiting in their sleep should skip it [2] |
| Pregnancy | Ask your GP or midwife first | None of the guidance we cite covers pregnancy |
| Children | No, unless a doctor supervises | It hasn't been studied in children [2] |
| Beard or moustache | Yes, with care | Adhesive grips skin, not hair, so fit and removal are harder |
| Sensitive skin | Yes, after a daytime patch test | Redness, irritation and allergic reactions are listed side effects [4] |
Common side effects: skin, sleep and anxiety
The side effects doctors list are redness, irritation or an allergic reaction on the skin, more anxiety, trouble falling or staying asleep, and difficulty breathing [4]. Cleveland Clinic notes the adjustment can be harder for people who have breathed through their mouth all their lives. Some people also keep trying to breathe through their mouth with the tape on, which researchers call mouth puffing [4]. To protect your skin, apply tape only to clean, unbroken skin, test it while you're awake, and stop if you see a reaction.
Can mouth taping kill you? The asphyxiation warning explained
The serious risk researchers describe is asphyxiation: if your nose blocks while your mouth is taped, you lose the airway your body falls back on [1]. Studies in the 2025 review raised this risk where there was nasal obstruction, and one raised the possibility of inhaling vomit if someone is sick in their sleep [1]. Dr Chris Seton of the Woolcock Institute has pointed out that breathing through the mouth during sleep is useful when you need it, and that taping could make sleep apnoea much worse for people who need treatment [5]. That is why the never list includes a blocked nose, heavy drinking, any chance of vomiting, and children. A vent or slit makes a strip feel less sealed, but it doesn't make mouth tape safe with a blocked nose.
Mouth taping and children
Don't use mouth tape on a child unless a doctor is supervising. The Sleep Foundation notes mouth taping hasn't been studied in children and advises that a child who breathes mainly through the mouth should see a doctor, because the cause needs checking [2]. Enlarged tonsils, for instance, are on Cleveland Clinic's list of reasons never to tape [4].
How to try it more safely
Start with a daytime test, use a tape made for skin, and never tape with a blocked nose.
- Wear it while you're awake first, to check you can breathe comfortably through your nose [2].
- Use tape made for skin, such as hypoallergenic, surgical or athletic tape, or a purpose-made strip. Never use masking tape or other tape that isn't made for the body [2].
- Fold over a small tab at one corner, or choose a strip with an easy-peel edge, so it comes off in one movement [2].
- Try a vented or slit strip if a fully sealed mouth feels claustrophobic.
- Take it off straight away if you feel short of breath, and skip any night you're congested, unwell or have been drinking.
Our collagen mouth tape has a breathable centre vent and a latex-free adhesive, but no vent makes taping safe with a blocked nose. For the full routine, see how to mouth tape, step by step.
When to see a GP instead
See a GP before trying mouth tape if you snore loudly, stop breathing or gasp in your sleep, or feel very sleepy during the day, because these can be signs of sleep apnoea [5]. If you want to know what the studies show for snoring and sleep apnoea, read does mouth taping work?
FAQs
Is mouth taping dangerous?
It can be for some people, mainly because of the asphyxiation risk with a blocked nose explained above [1].
Can I use mouth tape with a blocked nose or a cold?
No. Mouth tape is only for people who can breathe comfortably through the nose, so skip it whenever you're congested [2][4].
Do doctors recommend mouth taping?
Not as routine practice. There are no official guidelines [2], and an Australian sleep specialist interviewed by the ABC advised anyone with signs of sleep apnoea to see a GP rather than tape [5].
Is it OK to mouth tape every night?
There's no official guidance on how often [2]. Use it only on nights your nose is clear, and give your skin a break if it gets irritated. More answers are in our mouth tape FAQ.
pretty sleepy. is a cosmetic lip-care product, not a medical device. If you snore loudly, gasp or stop breathing in your sleep, or have a breathing or sleep condition, talk to your doctor before using any mouth tape.
Sources
- Rhee J, Iansavitchene A, Mannala S, Graham ME, Rotenberg B. Breaking social media fads and uncovering the safety and efficacy of mouth taping in patients with mouth breathing, sleep disordered breathing, or obstructive sleep apnea: a systematic review. PLOS One. 2025;20(5):e0323643. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0323643
- Sleep Foundation. Mouth taping for sleep: does it work? Medically reviewed by Anis Rehman, MD. Updated 23 March 2026. https://www.sleepfoundation.org/snoring/mouth-taping-for-sleep
- Fangmeyer SK, Badger CD, Thakkar PG. Nocturnal mouth-taping and social media: a scoping review of the evidence. American Journal of Otolaryngology. 2025;46(1):104545. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjoto.2024.104545
- Cleveland Clinic. Is mouth tape safe to use while sleeping? With Brian Chen, MD. 25 July 2025. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/mouth-taping
- Bowring D. What is mouth taping and will it fix your bad sleep? ABC News, 21 September 2022. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-09-21/mouth-taping-sleep-is-it-safe/101430200