Mouth taping has not stopped taking the world by storm. While this trend first found its way into the zeitgeist on social media, with influencers showing themselves mouth taping and singing its praises.
Celebrities have also joined in on the trend, with Olympians claiming mouth tape won them medals and reports coming out of celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow and Ashley Graham hopping on the mouth taping train. (1)
Now, in a recent interview with Parents magazine, Jimmy Fallon, host of the Tonight Show and Saturday Night Live alum, revealed he is hopping on the mouth taping trend. (2)
Even though popular figures like Jimmy praise the practice, mouth tape and its benefits, most doctors still warn against the practice. So, we’ve gone ahead and broken down everything to know about Jimmy’s recent move to mouth taping: why Jimmy’s picking up this controversial bedtime practice, and why doctors argue against it.
Why Did Jimmy Fallon Start Mouth Taping?
Jimmy told Parents magazine that he’s been trying to take better care of himself as he approaches his 50th birthday saying that “I’m reading a lot about breathing more through my nose. I swear! It’s much better for you. I think it’s about longevity, stress levels, heart rate, and all that stuff.” (2)
Jimmy then goes on to say, “I’m reading about how to tape my mouth shut when I go to sleep and force myself to breathe through my nose to get a better night’s sleep. I have to do this under supervision. So, I’m going to have security guards next to my bed and try this — I’m not kidding!” (2)
This is not the first time that Jimmy has shown an interest in breathing and how it can affect your body. According to Business Insider’s reporting, Jimmy spoke about his interest on the Tonight Show while talking to Andrew Huberman, neuroscientist at Stanford University and host of the Huberman Lab podcast. Jimmy told Huberman that, “If I could invest money, I would invest in breathing.” (3)
What Do Doctors Have to Say About Mouth Taping?
Doctors aren’t as positive on the mouth taping trend as Jimmy is. Sleepopolis’s director of sleep health Dr. Shelby Harris has this to say on mouth taping: “There’s not enough evidence to suggest that mouth taping has any real benefits when it comes to sleep, and it’s not something I recommend to anyone who is using it as a way to reduce snoring or mouth breathing.”
Additionally, Dr. Harris says that “mouth taping can potentially be dangerous for those with sleep apnea and can make it more difficult to breathe properly throughout the night, further reducing the oxygen levels in your body and increasing the risk of developing other serious health conditions and sleep disorders.”
So, even though celebrities and influencers alike are quite positive on the mouth taping trend, you’ll probably want to steer clear of trying out mouth taping for yourself. If you’re having trouble sleeping, or having trouble breathing while you sleep, the best thing that you can do is talk to your doctor and make a plan with them.
How Can I Get A Good Night’s Sleep Without Mouth Taping?
There are some pretty easy steps that you can take to get a good night’s rest. Dr. Harris recommends “a relaxing nighttime routine or ritual within the hour leading up to bed can help improve sleep quality and quantity — and I don’t always have time for an hour, I just try to get an hour but if I only have 15 minutes, I still make it a priority to wind down.” This nighttime routine can include some good sleep hygiene practices such as ditching screens, and opting to read a book or do a non-screen related activity right before going to sleep.
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Sources
- Ng, Kate. What is mouth taping? Tess Daly joins celebrities in praising the sleep practice. Yahoo. October 26, 2023. https://uk.style.yahoo.com/mouth-taping-health-trend-tiktok-tess-daly-135753143.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAFpvnvS6eT-Z_xT8rrHpcVy74dBUu666drbRMn5mfPH2k9ZogOpRpiWn58a2hwqHqI9GiBrnJnjUhPOdJMjS36cTQTu07QKo2UqNvQzilphfZAJQnYa9I71QYjuMaf5KtepT5IuAqNXpKYwoSLUgDTLouT2IxNGaimx9wzKYiN28
- Bastidas, Grace. Jimmy Fallon is done with allnighters. Parents. September 2, 2024. https://www.parents.com/take-five-with-grace-jimmy-fallon-8702306
- Liam, Erin. Jimmy Fallon plans to tape his mouth shut for a better nights sleep. Business Insider. September 4, 2024. https://www.businessinsider.com/jimmy-fallon-tapes-his-mouth-sleep-experts-warn-against-it-2024-9
