THE ROLE OF NASAL BREATHING IN SLEEP OPTIMIZATION: A CLINICAL ANALYSIS OF THE EFFICACY AND RISKS OF THE MOUTH TAPING METHOD

Background. Nasal breathing is obligatory for maintaining airway patency, humidifying and delivering Nitric Oxide (NO). In contrast, mouth breathing increases airway resistance and leads to significant nocturnal dehydration and sleep fragmentation. Nocturnal Mouth Taping (NMT) has gained popularity as a tool to enforce the nasal route. Aim. To explore the physiological advantages of nasal respiration, and to study the clinical effect and safety for mouth taping approach. Materials and Methods. A narrative review of 20 peer-reviewed sources (2003–2025) was conducted using databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar, focusing on respiratory physiology and clinical outcomes of nocturnal mouth taping. Results. In mild OSA (Obstructive Sleep Apnea) patients NMT reduces significantly Apnea/Hypopnea Index (from 8.3 to 4.7 events/h) and snoring (by47%). However, it is ineffective for moderate-to-severe OSA, where "mouth puffing" indicates persistent airway collapse despite mechanical lip closure. Conclusions. The existing evidence is inadequate for clinical use of NMT. The practice is explicitly discouraged for the general population, especially those with moderate-to-severe OSA or nasal obstructions, due to life-threatening risks of asphyxiation and aspiration. NMT cannot replace medical treatment and potentially dangerous delay of appropriate surgery may occur for underlying anatomical pathologies.