What do dentists think of mouth taping? In short, they like nasal breathing and they do not recommend tape as a treatment. That split is the whole story. Dentists agree that breathing through your nose is better for your teeth and gums than breathing through your mouth all night. They do not agree that sealing your lips shut with tape is a safe or proven way to get there, and the main dental body in the United States does not list mouth taping as a dental treatment at all.

This article is the expert-view follow-up to yesterday’s core question, is it good to wear mouth tape while sleeping. Yesterday covered the sleep trials. Today covers what dentists actually say, where they agree, where they differ, and what they suggest instead. If you mouth breathe at night, the useful question is not whether tape works in general. It is why you mouth breathe, and whether anything in your mouth, nose or bite is making nasal breathing hard.

The short answer dentists give

Ask a dentist about mouth taping and you will usually hear the same two-part answer. First, nasal breathing is worth protecting, because saliva protects your teeth and mouth breathing dries your mouth out. Second, tape is not a treatment for the thing that makes you mouth breathe. Cosmetic dentist Dr Raj Juneja, principal dentist at Face Teeth Smile Dental Clinics, put it this way in press coverage of the trend: while mouth taping may promote nasal breathing, which can help reduce dry mouth and bad breath, it will not solve underlying dental or airway problems. His advice for people who mouth breathe because of congestion, allergies or jaw positioning was to skip do-it-yourself solutions and see a dentist or doctor to find the real cause.

WebMD’s review of the topic reaches the same position from the evidence side. It states that doctors and dentists do not recommend mouth taping because there is not enough scientific evidence to show it works for health or wellness. It also states that the American Dental Association does not include mouth taping under its dental care guidelines or list of treatments for sleep apnoea. That is not a ban. It is the absence of an endorsement, and for a trend sold as a dental health hack, that absence matters.

Why mouth breathing worries dentists in the first place

The dental case against mouth breathing is about saliva. Saliva washes away food particles, neutralises acids made by bacteria, and keeps oral tissues moist. When you breathe through your mouth for hours at night, saliva flow falls and the mouth dries out. Juneja’s warning follows directly: without enough saliva, you are more prone to cavities, gum inflammation and staining, and over time that can affect both your oral health and the appearance of your smile.

Dentist Sam Jethwa makes the same point in press coverage of the trend, noting that mouth breathing can cause oral health issues such as bad breath, tooth decay and gum disease. The logic is not controversial. What is controversial is the next step, from “mouth breathing is bad for teeth” to “therefore tape your mouth shut”. A dry mouth caused by a blocked nose does not become a healthy mouth because tape forces air through that same blocked nose. It becomes a mouth that is still dry, plus a nose that cannot carry the full breathing load.

Dental practices that list mouth taping risks also mention skin irritation around the lips from adhesive, and jaw strain for people who already have jaw pain or bite problems. Treat those as clinical cautions, not trial findings. No trial in the mouth taping literature measured jaw strain as an outcome. The caution is still worth hearing if you already have jaw pain, because forcing your mouth shut all night is a strange first step for a sore jaw.

What the sleep evidence says, in dental terms

Dentists are not sleep specialists, but they are often the first clinician to spot a mouth breather, and several dental practices now field questions about tape. The evidence they are being asked about is thin. The strongest summary is Rhee and colleagues’ systematic review, published in PLOS One in 2025. The team screened 25 years of literature, from 1999 to 2024, and found only 10 studies that met their inclusion criteria, covering 213 patients in total. Only two of the 10 studies showed statistically significant improvements in sleep apnoea measures. Four of the 10 discussed a potentially serious risk of asphyxiation for people with nasal obstruction. The authors concluded that the evidence does not support taping as a treatment for sleep-disordered breathing. Western University, where senior researcher Brian Rotenberg is based, summarised the same review as finding no strong evidence of health benefits, contradicting the social media claims.

The small positive studies do not change that picture for dentists, because they are so selected. A preliminary study of 20 adults with mild obstructive sleep apnoea who were documented mouth-breathers and who had already shown they could tolerate mouth sealing found median apnoea-hypopnoea index fell from 8.3 to 4.7 events per hour, with the snoring index down by about 47 percent and 65 percent classed as responders. That study was small, preliminary and non-randomised, and it tested people whose noses worked. A 2024 trial from Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, published in JAMA Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, tested mouth closure in 54 patients with obstructive sleep apnoea and found airflow improved overall by 27.8 percentage points, but worsened by 1.9 litres per minute in patients with high levels of mouth breathing and velopharyngeal obstruction, obstruction at the back of the nose and throat.

There is one dental-adjacent exception, and dentists are careful about its limits. A small study of 21 people whose mild to moderate sleep apnoea was treated with a mandibular advancement device, an oral appliance fitted by a dentist that pushes the jaw and tongue forward to keep the airway open, found that adding mouth taping reduced the apnoea-hypopnoea index compared with using the device alone. WebMD reports that study and immediately adds that more and larger studies are needed to know whether it works for everyone. Note what this is: tape as an add-on to a fitted dental device, in people already diagnosed and treated, not tape as a substitute for diagnosis.

The other legitimate use in the literature is also an add-on, not a standalone treatment. A randomised crossover trial in 62 patients with sleep apnoea who used CPAP and breathed through their mouths, published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine in 2025, found tape with CPAP raised use by 51.8 minutes per day and by 41.4 minutes per used day, with 17.6 percentage points more days at four hours or more, and adverse effects were reported. That is a compliance aid for people already on prescribed therapy, supervised in a trial. It is not evidence that an undiagnosed snorer should tape at home.

Children, braces and jaw growth: where dentists are firmest

Dentists are most cautious about mouth taping in children and teenagers, and this is where the dental view is firmest. Parent-facing guidance from Luna summarises the position plainly: most sleep specialists and dentists do not recommend mouth taping for teenagers or children. The reasons given are practical. Children’s airways are smaller, a blocked nose at night leaves less margin, a child may not easily remove the tape, and taping can cover up an undiagnosed sleep or breathing problem instead of getting it checked.

Dentists are also cautious where a teenager wears braces or another dental appliance. Luna’s guidance notes that taping may affect how the jaw rests or how devices sit overnight, which could interfere with treatment or cause discomfort. That is a caution to raise with your own orthodontist, not a proven harm in a trial, but it is a good reason not to add tape to an orthodontic treatment plan without asking.

The longer-term orthodontic concern is about growth, not tape. Orthodontists report that children who breathe through their mouths during growth can develop a narrow palate, because the tongue is not pressing on the roof of the mouth, a longer lower face, a retruded jaw, posterior crossbite where the upper teeth bite inside the lower teeth, and anterior open bite where the front teeth do not meet. Specialist orthodontist Dr Teertha Karnakar, quoted in a paediatric dentistry summary, warns that untreated airway problems may so affect facial growth that orthodontics alone cannot correct the malocclusion, and that corrective jaw surgery later in life may be required in addition to opening the nasal airway. The same summary notes reduced salivary flow in mouth breathers, with higher risk of demineralisation, decay, chronic gingivitis, periodontitis, candida infections and halitosis.

Read that carefully. It is an argument for finding out why a child mouth breathes, and treating the airway early, with a team that can include a paediatric dentist, a paediatrician, an orthodontist, an ear nose and throat specialist and a myofunctional therapist. It is not an argument for taping a child’s mouth shut. If anything, it points the other way: a child whose face is growing around a blocked airway needs the blockage assessed, not covered.

The jawline claim: dentists do not back it

One of the loudest social media promises is that mouth taping improves the jawline, sharpens the face or reduces a double chin. Dentists do not back that claim, and neither does the evidence review. WebMD states plainly that there are no scientific studies that show mouth taping improves jawline or facial features. Jethwa, in the press coverage cited above, likewise says taping is unlikely to have any effect on a sagging jawline or double chin.

The confusion comes from mixing up two different things. In a growing child, restoring nasal breathing and normal tongue posture can influence how the face grows, which is why orthodontists care so much about childhood mouth breathing. In an adult, whose facial bones have finished growing, overnight lip position does not reshape the jaw. Adult bone structure is not remodelled by tape. If a video shows a sharper jawline after weeks of taping, the likelier explanations are lighting, posture, weight change or a filter, none of which the tape studies measured.

What dentists recommend instead

Juneja’s safer list is short and practical: nasal strips, saline rinses, or addressing sinus congestion. If jaw shape or bite is part of the problem, a dentist can spot it quickly, including a narrow palate or misaligned bite that might be making nasal breathing more difficult. That check is the dental contribution most people skip. A dentist looking at your bite, palate, tongue posture and gum health can tell you whether your mouth breathing has a dental component at all, and whether an oral appliance, orthodontic work or a referral is worth discussing.

Beyond the dental chair, the alternatives depend on the cause, which is exactly why dentists keep sending people back to the cause. Allergy or asthma treatment if those block the nose. Nasal strips or over-the-nose dilators to open the nasal passages, with the honest caveat from WebMD that nasal strips alone do not improve sleep apnoea symptoms. Side sleeping instead of back sleeping, which reduces snoring for many people. Orofacial or myofunctional therapy to strengthen the tongue and the muscles that control the lips, tongue, upper airway and face. A custom-fitted oral appliance from a dentist for diagnosed sleep apnoea. CPAP for diagnosed sleep apnoea. Surgery to remove a nasal or airway obstruction where that is the assessed cause. None of these is as cheap or as simple as a strip of tape, which is part of tape’s appeal and part of its problem: the simple option skips the diagnosis.

For teeth themselves, the dentist’s advice is unglamorous and well supported. The American Dental Association recommends brushing teeth and tongue twice daily with a fluoride toothpaste, interdental cleaning or flossing once a day, and regular dental checkups and cleanings at least once a year, more often depending on oral health. If dry mouth is the problem, WebMD notes it can also come from medicines such as diuretics or some heart medicines, or from Sjogren’s syndrome, an autoimmune disorder, and that treatments include sugar-free gum or candy and saliva replacement rinses. Tape does not fix a medicine-induced dry mouth, and it does not replace fluoride.

Who should not tape, and the red flags to get checked

Do not tape if your nose is blocked, if you have a cold or an ear or sinus infection, if you have drunk alcohol or taken sedatives, if you have nasal polyps or another nasal breathing problem, or if you have severe heart or lung problems. That list comes from at least one mouth tape manufacturer as reported by WebMD, and it overlaps closely with the clinical cautions in the Rhee review. It is a useful minimum, not a safety guarantee: passing that list does not make taping proven or recommended.

Get checked promptly, by a doctor or dentist rather than by a tape experiment, if you snore loudly with pauses in breathing, wake up choking or gasping, feel unrefreshed despite a full night, fall asleep during the day, or have a child who snores, sleeps with the mouth open, wakes with a dry mouth or bad breath, or seems tired despite sleeping. Those are the signs that point towards sleep-disordered breathing or an airway problem that needs assessment, and they are also the signs that make taping riskiest, because they suggest the mouth is open for a reason.

If you already tape and want a dentist’s view on your own case, take a short list to your appointment. Ask whether your bite, palate or tongue posture could be contributing. Ask whether your gums show signs of dry mouth damage. Ask whether an oral appliance or a sleep study is worth discussing before any home experiment continues. Ask directly whether tape makes sense for you, given your nose, your medicines and any appliance you wear. A dentist who can examine you can answer that question in a way no article can.

The verdict for self-experimenters

What do dentists think of mouth taping, then? They think nasal breathing is good, mouth breathing is bad for teeth, and tape is an unproven shortcut that skips the diagnosis. The dental consensus is not “never think about your breathing”. It is “find out why you breathe through your mouth, protect your teeth with fluoride and checkups while you do, and do not let a strip of tape stand in for an airway assessment”. That is less exciting than a viral hack, and it is the version that survives contact with the evidence.

The honest self-experiment is not a tape trial. It is a cause hunt: clear the nose, treat the allergy, check the bite, check the airway, and keep the dentist in the loop. If nasal breathing becomes easy, you may not need tape at all. If it does not become easy, you have found the real problem, and tape was never going to fix it.

Frequently asked questions

What do dentists think of mouth taping?

Dentists back nasal breathing but do not recommend mouth taping as a treatment. The American Dental Association does not include mouth taping in its dental care guidelines or list of treatments for sleep apnoea, and WebMD reports that doctors and dentists do not recommend it because there is not enough scientific evidence that it works.

Does mouth taping improve dental health?

No study has shown that mouth taping itself improves dental health. Mouth breathing is linked to dry mouth, cavities and gum disease because saliva protects teeth, but taping over a blocked nose does not restore healthy saliva flow or treat the cause of the mouth breathing.

Can mouth taping improve your jawline?

No. There are no scientific studies showing that mouth taping improves jawline or facial features, and dentists quoted in press coverage say it is unlikely to affect a sagging jawline or double chin. Adult facial bone structure is not reshaped by overnight lip position.

Is mouth taping safe for children?

Most sleep specialists and dentists do not recommend mouth taping for children or teenagers. Children’s airways are smaller, a blocked nose leaves less margin, a child may not easily remove the tape, and taping can delay assessment of an underlying sleep or breathing problem. Dentists are also cautious where a teenager wears braces or another appliance.

What do dentists suggest instead of mouth tape?

Find and treat the cause: nasal strips, saline rinses and allergy treatment for congestion, a dental check for narrow palate or bite problems, side sleeping, orofacial therapy, a custom-fitted oral appliance for diagnosed sleep apnoea, or CPAP. For teeth, the standing advice is fluoride toothpaste twice daily, flossing once daily, and regular checkups.

When should you see a dentist or doctor about mouth breathing?

See a clinician if you snore loudly with breathing pauses, wake choking or gasping, feel unrefreshed after a full night, fall asleep during the day, or if a child snores, sleeps with the mouth open, or wakes with a dry mouth or bad breath. Those signs point to an airway problem that needs assessment, not a tape experiment.

Sources

Rhee, J. et al. (2025). Mouth taping for sleep-disordered breathing: systematic review. PLOS One. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0323643. Summary: Western University, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, May 2025, “No evidence for viral mouth-taping trend, sleep expert says”. https://www.schulich.uwo.ca/about/news-events-community/news/2025/no-evidence-for-viral-mouth-taping-trend-sleep-expert-says.html

WebMD. “Is Mouth Taping Safe? Risks, Side Effects, and Uses”. https://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/mouth-taping

Sustain Health Magazine. “Mouth Taping: Dentist Advice, Risks and Safer Alternatives” (Dr Raj Juneja, Face Teeth Smile Dental Clinics). https://sustainhealth.fit/lifestyle/mouth-taping-risks/

Spell Magazine. “Mouth Taping: Here’s What You Should Know According To A Dentist” (Dr Raj Juneja). https://spellmagazine.co.uk/mouth-taping-is-trending-heres-what-you-need-to-know-according-to-a-cosmetic-dentist/

Bespoke Smile. “The reality behind mouth taping for sleep and jawlines” (Dentist Sam Jethwa). https://bespokesmile.co.uk/in-the-press/sleep-better-eliminate-bad-breath-and-tighten-jowls-can-nightly-mouth-taping-be-the-secret/

Luna. “Is mouth taping for sleep safe for your daughter?” https://weareluna.app/parents/guides/sleep/mouth-tape-for-sleep/

Dr Michaels Dental Clinic. “Mouth Breathing in Children” (Specialist Orthodontist Dr Teertha Karnakar). https://www.drmichaels.com/blog/mouth-breathing-in-children

Lee, Y. C. et al. (2022). Preliminary study of mouth taping in mild obstructive sleep apnoea. PMC9498537. Yang, V. et al. / Vena, D. et al. (2024). Mouth closure during drug-induced sleep endoscopy. JAMA Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery. PMID 39361293. Meksukree, S. et al. (2025). Mouth taping with CPAP, randomised crossover. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine 21(12):2063-2071. All three as verified in the 28 Oct doctorbiohacks slot.

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This article is for information only and is not medical or dental advice. If you snore, suspect sleep apnoea, or have a blocked nose, jaw pain, braces or another dental appliance, speak to your dentist or doctor before trying mouth tape.