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Courtesy of The Skinny Confidential
If you’ve been scrolling wellness trends lately, you may have seen mouth taping pitched as the secret to a better night’s sleep. And with Sleep Awareness Week shining a spotlight on healthy bedtime habits, it feels like the perfect time to ask: Does this viral hack actually work?
To get answers, we talked to Dr. Jon Marashi, the board-certified dentist behind countless celebrity smiles — including Matt Damon, Kate Hudson, Ben Affleck, Lindsay Lohan, and even Cher — about what mouth taping really does for sleep quality, drooling, and snoring.
Do You Need Mouth Tape for Better Sleep?
When we asked whether mouth tape is truly necessary, Dr. Marashi points to the trend’s roots in breathing awareness. “Mouth taping has become popular because people are paying more attention to breathing and sleep health, which is great.”
He explains that from a dental standpoint, keeping the mouth closed can offer certain benefits… “anything that encourages nasal breathing can be beneficial because chronic mouth breathing is very hard on the teeth and gums. It dries out the mouth and disrupts the natural protective role of saliva.”
Still, he says, it’s important to keep expectations realistic. “That said, I tend to view mouth taping as a temporary aid rather than a real solution. If someone is consistently breathing through their mouth at night, there is usually an underlying airway or nasal issue that should be addressed.”
Can Mouth Taping Reduce Snoring and Drooling?
Dr. Marashi says the answer isn’t black and white. “It can help in some cases because it encourages the mouth to stay closed and promotes nasal breathing.”
He goes on to explain why that matters: “When the mouth falls open during sleep, the airway can become less stable, and that can contribute to snoring. Sleeping with the mouth open also causes the mouth to dry out, which increases drooling and bacterial growth.”
The Pros and Cons
While mouth taping may promote nasal breathing, Dr. Marashi emphasizes it doesn’t fix the reason someone is mouth breathing to begin with. “The potential benefit is that it may encourage nasal breathing, which helps keep the mouth properly hydrated with saliva. Saliva is essential for protecting teeth from cavities, gum disease, and bad breath.”
He also notes, “the downside is that it does not address the root cause…People with sleep apnea, chronic nasal congestion, breathing disorders, or severe allergies should speak with a physician first. If someone cannot comfortably breathe through their nose while awake, mouth taping is not a good idea.”
If you’re thinking about potentially trying out mouth tape, we recommend doing so cautiously—and only if you feel like you’re an ideal candidate. Keep scrolling for a few shopper-loved options below that are gentle, safe, and designed for facial use.
Best Mouth Tape for Sleeping:
VIO2 Unscented Mouth Tape
With its versatile H-shaped design, VIO2 tape can be worn horizontally or vertically to gently keep lips closed overnight. The cotton blend material uses hypoallergenic medical-grade adhesive and skips latex, PFAS, and other forever chemicals.
The Skinny Confidential Mouth Tape
This simple overnight tape slips into your nighttime routine to help support quieter sleep and more energized mornings. Reducing snoring may also help contribute to a more sculpted jawline and brighter-looking eyes.
Nexcare Strong Hold Pain-Free Removal Tape for Sensitive Skin
New to mouth taping? A simple roll of Nexcare medical tape is often recommended as an affordable place to start. The lighter adhesive keeps lips closed without feeling overly restrictive.
Love and Pebble Mouth Tape
Encouraging nasal breathing while you sleep, this tape may help support deeper rest while minimizing snoring, dry mouth, and morning puffiness. Each pack includes a 30-night supply made with breathable, dermatologist-tested adhesive that’s latex-free and gentle on skin.
Skin Gym For the Love of Sleep Mouth Tape
Skin Gym’s “For the Love of Sleep” mouth tape helps promote nose breathing while you rest, which may reduce snoring and dry mouth overnight. The kiss-shaped tapes feature heat-sensitive adhesive that’s sweat-resistant, comfortable, and latex-free.
SomniFix Mouth Tape
One reason SomniFix stands out is its clever design, which includes a breathing vent for added comfort and safety. The strips use medical-grade adhesive and skin-friendly materials that feel gentle on your face.
How We Choose
The E! Insider Shop editors and writers search the internet to find the best products out there. We interview expert sources, comb through customer reviews, and use our own personal experiences to make shopping easier for our readers.
As an editorial team, we independently create content and determine coverage based on research, reporting and what we think our readers would like to read about. The goal of our content is to provide a service and inform readers who are on the hunt for the latest products to help make their life better. Items are sold by retailer, not E!. Pricing and availability are accurate as of publish time.
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