Mouth Tape
The Impact of Mouth Taping on Gum Disease and Oral Health
Effects of Mouth Breathing on Your Oral Microbiome and Gum Health
Written by SOOM
SOOMer
What Is Mouth Taping and Why Do People Try It?
Mouth taping is exactly what it sounds like—placing a piece of skin-safe tape over your lips before bed to keep your mouth shut. It might sound like an odd bedtime ritual, but it's a growing trend with a passionate following. The goal? To encourage nasal breathing during sleep.
Advocates claim that keeping your mouth closed while sleeping can:
Reduce snoring
Improve sleep quality
Prevent dry mouth (a major contributor to cavities and gum disease)
This all ties into the idea that mouth breathing at night can be harmful—drying out the mouth, disrupting the oral microbiome, and leading to a higher risk of gum disease. But how much truth is there to these claims? And is mouth taping actually a smart oral health hack or just another wellness fad?
Effects of Mouth Breathing on Your Oral Microbiome and Gum Health
First, let’s talk about the damage mouth breathing can cause.
When you breathe through your mouth instead of your nose, the air you inhale isn't filtered or humidified like it is when passing through nasal passages. This results in a dry mouth—a perfect breeding ground for harmful bacteria.
Saliva is your body’s natural defense against tooth decay and gum disease. It washes away food particles, neutralizes acids, and maintains a healthy pH balance in your mouth. But when you mouth-breathe, saliva production decreases, allowing “bad” bacteria to thrive.
👉 The result? More plaque buildup, increased cavities, and gum inflammation.
📌 In a study of children who were habitual mouth breathers, researchers found they had significantly different bacterial profiles compared to nose breathers—with more harmful pathogens linked to gum disease.
Can Mouth Taping Actually Prevent Gum Disease?
In theory, yes.
If mouth taping successfully prevents mouth breathing, it could help preserve saliva levels and maintain a healthier oral environment. But—and it’s a big but—this assumes you have clear nasal passages and can comfortably breathe through your nose all night.
Claimed Benefits of Mouth Taping
Here’s what proponents of mouth taping say it can do for your oral health:
✔ Prevents Dry Mouth – With your mouth closed, saliva can do its job of protecting your teeth and gums.
✔ Reduces Bad Breath – A dry mouth often leads to morning breath. Keeping saliva flowing overnight may help.
✔ Lowers Cavity Risk – Saliva neutralizes acids that cause tooth decay. Less dryness = less cavity-causing bacteria.
✔ Reduces Gum Inflammation – Mouth breathing has been linked to higher gum disease rates due to an imbalanced oral microbiome.
But Does Science Back This Up?
Scientific research on mouth taping is still limited, and most studies focus on snoring and sleep apnea rather than oral health. However, related evidence suggests that reducing mouth breathing is beneficial for gum health.
🦷 One study found that periodontal disease patients who were mouth breathers healed more slowly than nasal breathers after treatment.
🦷 Another study showed that people who breathe through their mouths have higher rates of gingival (gum) inflammation and plaque buildup.
While no studies have directly tested mouth taping’s long-term impact on cavities or gum disease, there’s strong circumstantial evidence suggesting anything that reduces mouth breathing could be a net positive for oral health.
What Do Experts Say?
🦷 Dentists' Perspective: Most dental professionals agree that nasal breathing is ideal for oral health, but they remain cautious about taping as a one-size-fits-all solution. Some worry that improper use could backfire—if someone unknowingly struggles to breathe through their nose, they might actually experience worse oral dryness and gum issues.
😴 Sleep Experts' Perspective: Many sleep specialists warn that taping can be risky if you have undiagnosed sleep apnea, nasal obstructions, or allergies. It’s not a medically approved treatment for sleep disorders, and in some cases, it could make nighttime breathing worse.
🚨 Key Warning from Doctors: If your nose is even partially blocked, forcing your mouth shut could reduce oxygen intake. That’s why experts recommend checking for underlying nasal issues before trying mouth taping.
Potential Risks of Mouth Taping
Before you slap some tape on your lips, here are a few things to consider:
🚫 Not for Everyone – If you have allergies, a deviated septum, or chronic congestion, mouth taping can make breathing more difficult.
🚫 Could Backfire – Some people still breathe through their mouths at night even with tape—just through puffed cheeks instead.
🚫 Might Cause Skin Irritation – The adhesive can be irritating, especially if you have sensitive skin.
🚫 Can Worsen Sleep Apnea – If you unknowingly have sleep apnea, taping your mouth shut could lead to dangerous oxygen drops during the night.
If you're considering trying mouth taping, it’s essential to make sure you can breathe easily through your nose all night first.
How to Safely Try Mouth Taping
If you’re curious about mouth taping, here’s how to do it safely:
✅ Use medical-grade, skin-safe tape – Don’t reach for duct tape (seriously, don’t). Look for brands like SomniFix or sleep-specific mouth tapes.
✅ Test nasal breathing first – Try closing your mouth during the day for a few minutes. If you feel short of breath, tape might not be for you.
✅ Start slow – Wear the tape for short naps or part of the night before committing to full overnight use.
✅ Consider alternative solutions – If mouth breathing is a problem, consult a dentist or ENT to address root causes like nasal blockages or poor oral posture.
Final Verdict: Should You Try Mouth Taping for Oral Health?
Mouth taping might help improve oral health if it successfully promotes nasal breathing. The potential benefits—reduced dry mouth, lower cavity risk, and less gum inflammation—make sense based on what we know about the dangers of mouth breathing.
However, the science is still catching up, and experts warn that it’s not a magic fix. If you’re struggling with dry mouth, gum disease, or snoring, your best bet is to work with a dentist or sleep specialist to address the underlying causes first.
✅ TRY IT IF: You can comfortably breathe through your nose, have no airway obstructions, and want to experiment with reducing mouth breathing at night.
❌ SKIP IT IF: You have allergies, nasal congestion, sleep apnea, or any trouble breathing through your nose.
Sources:
Fangmeyer SK, et al. Nocturnal mouth-taping and social media: A scoping review of the evidence. Am J Otolaryngol. 2025;46(1):104545
Colgate Oral Care Center. “Mouth Taping for Sleep” (Medically reviewed, Jan 2023)
Macri Dental. “The Truth About Mouth Taping – Can It Really Reduce Mouth Breathing?” (Dr. Macri blog)
Cleveland Clinic – C. Peña Orbea, MD. “Mouth Taping: Is It Safe?” (Sep 8, 2022)
Henry Ford Health – L. Bazan, MD. “Mouth Taping at Night: Get the Facts” (Mar 2024)
Today’s RDH – T. Aulds, RDH. “Mouth Taping: Viral Fad or Evidence-Based Treatment?” (Oct 2024)
Frontiers in Microbiology – Fan X, et al. Alterations in Oral–Nasal–Pharyngeal Microbiota in Mouth-Breathing Children. 2020
Journal of Clinical Periodontology – Bacal CA, et al. Influence of mouth breathing on periodontal disease. 2018
JAMA Otolaryngology – Chadwick JW, Huang AT. Should Mouth Taping and OSA Therapies Be Regulated? (Commentary, 2024)