In the world of health and fitness we can not help, but stumble upon crazy biohacks like mouth taping. As we have shared several times, our opinion is that implementing wild biohacks should be pushed out of your mind until your diet, workouts, hydration, and sobriety have been achieved.
It is like trying to save .10 cents on a loaf of bread, instead of saving hundreds of $$ by getting new home and auto insurance. If you want to move the needle, focus on the big things.
Disclaimer: You should always discuss your health with a doctor before starting any biohacking program. Something like mouth taping may be recommended to you to deal with a specific issue, but then again, it may not.
All we are saying is mouth taping might not be suitable for everyone.
Any way here is what we discovered about this practice.
What in the World is Mouth Taping?
For the uninitiated, mouth taping involves—brace yourself—taping your mouth shut before going to bed. Yes, you read that right. We’re voluntarily doing what every parent wishes they could do to a crying baby.
The idea is simple (and slightly medieval): By taping your mouth shut, you're encouraged to breathe through your nose, which is supposedly the ultimate way to slumber like a serene sultan. Apparently, nasal breathing ensures your dreams are air-conditioned and drool-free. Fascinating, I know.
You could practice nose breathing during the day and let that carry over to bed, but what do we know.
The Science-y Bit
Before you grab the nearest roll of duct tape, hold on. The science behind mouth taping is loosely tied to improving sleep quality by enhancing oxygen intake and reducing snoring. But remember, just because it has ‘science’ in its corner doesn’t mean it’ll turn you into a radiant morning person overnight.
This could potential have the opposite effect for someone with severe sinus issues and be dangerous, if not life threatening, so again talk to a doctor or sleep specialist before making yourself look like a hostage before bed.
Mouth taping sounds like a simple fix to a complicated of the sleep world. It seems fun and harmless until you realize it's stuck everywhere, and your pillow now resembles a modern art piece.
We were able to find one study that concluded mouth taping could help with snoring and other sleep disorders, which you can read here.
Kevin's Two Cents
While mouth taping seems odd and may be dangerous for some, it is important to point out that nose breathing is essential for your health, regulating the nervous system, and for sports performance.
Nose breathing is something you should be aware of and practice, as mouth breathing can lead to a fight or flight response, and poor oxygenation of the body. We highly recommend books like, The Oxygen Advantage, which highlight the importance of proper breathing.
Before You Tape
Now, before you rush to Amazon for mouth tape, remember our golden rule of biohacks here at Wild Warrior: Don’t count your biohacks before your ducks are in a row (or something like that). That means, check off the basics first—diet, exercise, hydration, and sobriety should be your trusty companions in this wellness quest. Mouth taping, cold plunges, red light, are the little additions.
If you want to add two great biohacks with a lot more science behind them, try getting in the sauna or fasting for 24 hours.
