'Dangerous' trend on TikTok taping mouth shut for weight loss and better sleep ... trends now
Doctors are warning against the latest bogus TikTok health hack that involves taping your mouth shut before bed to lose weight.
Videos on TikTok extolling the benefits of mouth taping have amassed hundreds of thousands of views. One such benefit, according to mouth tape manufacturer Somnifix, is that forcing yourself to breathe through the nose only promotes fat loss.
Proponents also claim it improves airflow, relaxes the body, stops snoring and helps people stay asleep.
But Dr Raj Dasgupta, a sleep specialist at the University of Southern California, said mouth taping at worst could lead to obstructed breathing and suffocation, explaining that 'if you have obstructive sleep apnea, yes, this can be very dangerous'.
Mouth taping is the latest TikTok trend to catch fire despite warnings from healthcare professionals.
Doctors recently warned against a similar viral trend called 'vabbing,' which involves smearing vaginal fluid behind the ears and neck, which proponents claim increases the chance of attracting men, by spreading their pheromones.
Tik Tok users claim mouth taping has helped them stay asleep, reduce snoring, and improve their energy during waking hours, a result of steady oxygen intake with nasal breathing
Some users also claim that the practice can help promote weight loss, citing evidence that breathing heartily through your nose is key to metabolizing fat particles in the body
Dr Dasgupta told CNBC: 'There is limited evidence on the benefits of mouth taping and I would be very careful — and even talk to your health care provider before attempting it.'
Some mouth tape users report having more energy in the hours after waking as a result of their improved sleep quality.
Experts fear that taking part in the trend can harm the 22million Americans who suffer from sleep apnea - a condition where breathing repeatedly stops and starts at night.
It can occur when the relaxation of a person's throat muscles while sleeping obstructs airways, or when the brain does not properly send signals to the body to continue breathing.
Experts warn that obstructing the mouth could make sleep apnea symptoms even worse.
Doctors also advise against taping your mouth if your nasal passages are not completely clear.
