Videos on social media promote the benefits of sleeping with duct tape over your mouth, but some doctors aren’t convinced.
Hostage Tape is a brand that sells oral tape that went viral on TikTok for advertising its product’s sleep benefits. In the tongue-in-cheek ad, which has been viewed nearly 3 million times, the company sarcastically tells viewers not to use its products.
“Don’t do it. Don’t tape your mouth while you sleep,” one man in the TikTok video says before listing the benefits. “This will lead to improved sleep, better muscle recovery, and many other benefits. ”
“Just don’t do it. But if you want to know how, get your hostage tape.”
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Hostage Tape is a brand that sells mouth tapes that became popular on TikTok for promising users a better sleep experience. (iStock | Hostage Video)
The video’s comments section was filled with critics and fans alike.
“This stuff is absolutely legal,” one person wrote. “I’ve been recording for about a year and this is the most comfortable and has the best grip. ‘Overnight’ changed my life (laughs).”
“[A]It’s all fun and games until you wake up with a stuffy nose and sleep paralysis,” one skeptic wrote.
Despite its weird name, the Hostage Tape mouth tape is breathable, hypoallergenic and easy to remove, according to the company’s website. The tape is said to train sleepers to close their mouths for a nap and can be used simultaneously with a CPAP machine.
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“It may seem strange, but our bodies are designed to breathe through our noses,” the Hostage Tapes website reads. “Research shows that most people breathe through their mouth while sleeping.”
“Oral breathing has also been shown to increase the risk of sleep apnea and other conditions,” the description adds.
“By using flexible and breathable tape, you can prevent mouth breathing and potentially reduce the complications associated with it.”
Hostage Tape says its oral tape is safe and comfortable to use. (Hostage Video)
Hostage Tape said in an email to Fox News Digital that it is endorsed by a large ear, nose and throat clinic in Southern California. The company also sent a positive letter to doctors about its oral tape.
“It is important to highlight the positive aspects of using oral tape: for those who can comfortably close their mouth and breathe gently through their nose without resistance, this product can be a game changer,” the letter reads. In most cases, even patients with conditions such as a deviated septum can breathe through the nose for long periods of time, especially during sleep when it is not a strenuous activity.”
Despite the benefits of the brand’s coverage, Fox News medical contributor Dr. Mark Siegel warned that the trend is “dangerous.”
“If your nose or sinuses are clogged, or if there’s an anatomic blockage, such as polyps, blocked sinuses or a deviated septum, that can interfere with complete breathing,” Siegel told Fox News Digital. “Oral breathing as a backup is a must. Less.
Siegel, a clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center, said nasal breathing at night does have some health benefits. Fox News medical contributor Dr. Janette Nesheiwat shared some of Siegel’s concerns and recommended it should never be used in children.
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“I have some potentially serious concerns about wearing tape over your mouth, including airway obstruction, difficulty breathing (if you have a stuffy nose), allergies, or if you have a problem with your nose that can block airflow and become more dangerous at night,” Nesheiwat said. “If you have undiagnosed sleep apnea and you use a mouth tape, it may be exacerbating the sleep apnea by restricting airflow, making your sleep apnea more severe.”
But she added that nasal breathing may benefit overall respiratory health.
While nasal breathing has its benefits, Dr. Mark Siegel warns that using a mouth strap can be dangerous. (iStock | Hostage Video)
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“I think it’s crucial to see [doctors] Start with a sleep study test to determine the cause of your symptoms that prompted you to try mouth tape.
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