Objective:

To address concerns regarding the safety and efficacy of mouth taping for sleep-related issues, particularly in individuals with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Approach:

• Social Media Impact: Over 7,000 posts with 7 million views on TikTok promoted mouth taping, claiming various benefits.
• Limited Evidence: The commentary highlighted the sparse literature supporting or disproving mouth taping benefits, especially in the context of OSA.
• Potential Risks: Undiagnosed upper airway obstructions could contraindicate mouth closure therapies.
• Variability in Outcomes: 22% of participants in a study experienced a significant decrease in inspiratory airflow with mouth closure.
• Need for Comprehensive Evaluation: Importance of proper diagnosis and assessment of anatomical factors before recommending mouth closure therapies.

Key Findings:

• 54 patients with varying OSA severities participated in the trial, which utilized drug-induced sleep endoscopy to evaluate inspiratory airflow in open and closed mouth positions.
• 22% (n = 12) of participants showed significantly decreased inspiratory airflow with mouth closure.
• Velopharyngeal obstruction was associated with decreased total inspiratory airflow during forced mouth closure.
• Preliminary studies showed modest reductions in apnea-hypopnea index values with mouth taping, limited to mild OSA patients.

Interpretation:

The authors emphasized the need for well-designed studies and evidence-based guidelines for OSA therapies.

Limitations:

• Sparse literature on mouth taping benefits.
• Limited studies focused on individuals with mild OSA and small sample sizes.

Conclusion:

The authors called for robust, data-driven protocols to guide clinical decision-making for OSA management.

Sources:

• JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery