Key Takeaway
Scoping review of 9 studies found heterogeneous evidence — some support for mouth taping in OSA and snoring, but no consensus and a disconnect between social media claims and scientific evidence.
Summary
This scoping review examined both the scientific literature and social media landscape around nocturnal mouth taping. From 177 identified studies, only 9 met inclusion criteria for sleep-related mouth taping. The authors also analyzed the first 50 qualifying TikTok videos using "mouth taping" as a search term.
The evidence was mixed: two studies showed significant improvements in obstructive sleep apnea metrics, one showed reduced snoring when combined with other interventions, one found no benefit for asthma, and one confirmed reduced mouth leak during bilevel ventilation. Meanwhile, TikTok creators promoted a wider range of benefits — improved sleep, oral health, and energy — that go well beyond what the literature supports.
The review highlights the gap between social media enthusiasm and scientific evidence, concluding that the literature is "markedly heterogeneous" with little consensus on mouth taping's benefits, though there may be potential advantages for specific conditions like OSA and snoring.
Methods
- Searched PubMed and Embase databases
- Analyzed first 50 qualifying TikTok videos for "mouth taping"
- 177 studies identified, 9 met inclusion criteria
- Focused on sleep-related mouth taping outcomes
Key Results
- 2 studies: significant improvements in OSA metrics
- 1 study: reduced snoring (combined intervention)
- 1 study: no benefit for asthma
- 1 study: reduced mouth leak with bilevel ventilation
- TikTok: most common claims were improved sleep and oral health
Limitations
- Only 9 studies met criteria — very limited evidence base
- Heterogeneous study designs prevent meta-analysis
- Social media analysis limited to TikTok only