Lip Taping: Trendy or Not?

Lip taping is a trend that has gained attention on platforms like TikTok, but it's important to carefully evaluate its actual benefits and potential risks. While it is true that the practice of taping the lips together to encourage nose breathing has been around for decades, its popularity is now growing due to the influence of social media. Influencers believe that taping the lips together and keeping the mouth closed can help accentuate the jaw line. This fad is going viral, but due to the lack of research, nothing is proven yet on that subject. 

Proven Benefits of Lip Taping:

1. Encourages Nasal Breathing: The main benefit of lip taping is that it promotes nasal breathing rather than mouth breathing. Nasal breathing has several health advantages:

o Improved Oxygen Intake: Breathing through the nose helps filter, warm, and humidify air, improving the efficiency of oxygen absorption into the bloodstream.

o Better CO2 Regulation: Nasal breathing allows for better control of carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in the body, which can help improve overall oxygen exchange and cardiovascular health.

o Increased Nitric Oxide Production: Nasal breathing boosts the production of nitric oxide, which has positive effects on blood flow and immune function.

2. Improved Sleep Quality: Lip taping can help reduce mouth breathing during sleep, which may lead to better quality sleep. Mouth breathing during the night is linked to snoring and interrupted sleep, so keeping the mouth closed could potentially decrease these issues.

3. Helps with Snoring: By encouraging nasal breathing, lip taping may reduce snoring caused by mouth breathing, leading to quieter, more restful sleep.

4. Reduces Dry Lips and Mouth: Since the mouth is kept closed, lip taping can prevent the lips from drying out, which is common with mouth breathing. It may also help prevent issues like dry mouth that can affect oral health.

5. Improved Congestion: For those with nasal congestion, lip taping may encourage nasal breathing even when they feel stuffy, potentially reducing the temptation to breathe through the mouth.

6. Improved Oral Health: Mouth breathing can lead to problems such as bad breath, gum disease, and cavities due to dry mouth. By promoting nose breathing, lip taping may help protect oral health.

Tips for healthier nose breathing:

1. Nasal rinses: to ensure your nasal passages are clear for optimal nasal breathing 

2. Tape test: practice wearing lip tape for a few minutes at a time, working up to overnight use

3. Choosing the right tape for you: 3M Flexible Clear tape (Dr. Hockel’s personal favorite) or 3M Micropore Paper tape are common and affordable options.  Many specialized tapes are also on the market.

4. Moisturizing lips: use a lip balm before applying tape to avoid irritation on sensitive skin

Lip taping may offer some benefits by promoting nasal breathing, which has positive effects on sleep, oral health, and overall well-being. If you decide to try lip taping, it is important to use it safely and listen to your body.

If you have not yet tried lip taping at night, this is your sign to start!

Check out Dr Hockel's Youtube video for more info on lip taping here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dsdsJ53Uuo