Glossary /
Mouth Taping
The practice of taping the lips shut during sleep to enforce nasal breathing.
What it is
Mouth taping is exactly what it sounds like: a small strip of hypoallergenic medical tape placed vertically across the lips at bedtime to keep the mouth closed and shift breathing entirely to the nose. Popularized by James Nestor’s book Breath and by dentist Mark Burhenne, the practice draws on the older “Buteyko” tradition of nasal-breathing training.
Why it matters
The nose filters, humidifies, and warms incoming air, and it produces nitric oxide that improves vasodilation and oxygen exchange in the lungs. Mouth breathing during sleep tends to dry the airway, increase snoring, lower HRV, and fragment sleep. For most healthy adults, switching to nasal breathing at night measurably improves sleep quality within a week. People with severe nasal obstruction or untreated sleep apnea should sort the underlying issue first — tape is not a treatment for those conditions.