Mouth Taping: Let’s Talk Safety—Especially for Kids

Mouth taping has been trending lately, especially in conversations about sleep and breathing. As a myofunctional therapist, I want to clarify how and when this tool may be appropriate—and when it absolutely is not.

First, an important distinction:
I do NOT recommend overnight mouth taping for children without medical clearance.

Why?

The mouth is the body’s backup breathing system.
If the nose becomes congested, restricted, or collapses during sleep, the body reflexively opens the mouth to protect oxygen intake. Taping the mouth closed at night—without addressing airway function—can block this safety mechanism.

Pediatric contraindications for overnight mouth taping include (but are not limited to):

• Mouth breathing of unknown cause

• Suspected or diagnosed sleep-disordered breathing or sleep apnea

• Enlarged tonsils or adenoids

• Chronic nasal congestion or allergies

• Deviated septum or nasal obstruction

• History of airway collapse, gasping, snoring, or restless sleep

• Anxiety or sensory sensitivities

• Young children who cannot remove tape independently

Until the airway is fully assessed and supported, taping at night can be unsafe.

So where does mouth taping fit in my practice?

I use mouth taping during the DAY only as a passive exercise for:

• Neuromuscular re-education of the facial muscles

• Proprioceptive input to help the brain recognize lip closure

• Supporting awareness of oral rest posture (lips closed, tongue up, nasal breathing)

This is done intentionally, briefly, and under supervision—not during sleep.

The real goal: Daytime oral rest posture

Healthy nighttime breathing starts during the day.

When a child consistently practices:

• Lips gently closed

• Tongue resting on the palate

• Nasal breathing

…the body is far more likely to maintain these patterns naturally at night, without forcing or restricting airflow.

• We don’t want to tape the problem away.

• We want to build the function that makes taping unnecessary.

If you’re considering mouth taping for your child, the first step isn’t tape—it’s a functional airway and oral motor assessment.

Supporting breathing, sleep, and facial development is about safety first, function always.

If you’d like help assessing whether your child’s mouth breathing is structural, functional, or airway-related, that’s exactly where myofunctional therapy can help.