I Slept With My Mouth Taped Shut for 30 Days

Summary

In a 30-day experiment, the narrator explores the unconventional practice of taping their mouth shut while sleeping to promote nasal breathing. They aim to improve sleep quality, reduce dry mouth, and enhance overall well-being. Initially skeptical, they experience noticeable benefits, including fewer nighttime awakenings and a refreshed feeling in the morning. Despite mixed data from sleep tracking devices, the narrator recommends the practice, particularly for mouth breathers, and decides to incorporate it into their nightly routine. The video highlights the impact of simple lifestyle changes on sleep hygiene and personal health.

Takeaways

• 😀 Experimenting with mouth taping can potentially improve sleep quality by encouraging nasal breathing.
• 💤 Quality sleep is linked to better overall health, productivity, and happiness.
• 🤔 The experiment was initiated out of curiosity about health hacks to enhance sleep.
• 🌬️ Breathing through the nose helps filter and humidify air, which is beneficial for lung health.
• 📅 The experiment lasted 30 days, with three weeks of mouth taping followed by one week without it.
• 💧 Users reported less dry mouth and fewer nighttime awakenings during the mouth taping phase.
• 📊 Sleep tracking was done using an Apple Watch and an Oura ring to gather objective data.
• 🤷‍♂️ Subjective experiences indicated improved sleep, but objective data was inconclusive.
• 👍 The speaker recommends trying mouth taping for those who struggle with mouth breathing.
• 📦 After the experiment, the speaker decided to continue using mouth tape as part of their nightly routine.

Q & A

What motivated the individual to tape their mouth shut while sleeping?

The individual was looking for ways to improve their sleep quality, reduce nighttime awakenings due to a dry mouth, and enhance overall health by encouraging nasal breathing.

What are the purported benefits of breathing through the nose instead of the mouth?

Breathing through the nose helps filter and humidify the air, warm it to body temperature, and potentially improves sinus health, dental hygiene, nitric oxide intake, and overall sleep quality.

What product did the individual use for mouth taping, and how was it designed?

The individual used Somnifix mouth strips, which are designed to keep the mouth closed during sleep while allowing for some breathing through a small hole in the middle.

What were the individual's initial experiences with mouth taping during the first few nights?

During the first few nights, the individual reported that they did not wake up needing water and experienced less dryness in their mouth compared to previous nights.

How did the individual's housemate respond to the mouth taping experiment?

The housemate found the idea somewhat silly but noted that it improved their own sleep quality by reducing snoring.

What challenges did the individual face while conducting this experiment?

The individual discovered that reusing the same mouth tape for multiple nights was uncomfortable and that sleep data interpretation was complicated due to various influencing factors.

What was the individual's conclusion about the effectiveness of mouth taping based on their subjective experience?

The individual felt that mouth taping improved their sleep quality, as they experienced fewer awakenings and less dryness, leading to feeling more refreshed in the mornings.

How did the objective sleep data from the Apple Watch and Oura ring compare with the individual's subjective experiences?

The objective sleep data suggested that sleep quality was better on nights without mouth taping, contrasting with the individual's subjective feeling that taping improved their sleep.

Would the individual recommend mouth taping to others, and why?

Yes, the individual would recommend it, especially for those who struggle with mouth breathing and nighttime dryness, as they found it beneficial in their own experience.

What changes did the individual notice in their daily breathing habits after the experiment?

The individual noticed that their default mouth position seemed to be more closed during the day, even when they weren't using the mouth tape, suggesting a potential positive change in their breathing habits.