Tackling Mild Obstructive Sleep Apnea with Mouth Taping: Insights from a Clinical Study
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) affects numerous individuals, with many resorting to nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatments. However, a significant number of OSA patients are mouth-breathers, which can exacerbate the condition by narrowing the upper airway. A recent study explored the efficacy of mouth taping as a simple, non-invasive intervention for individuals with mild OSA who predominantly breathe through their mouths during sleep.
The study recruited mouth-breathers diagnosed with mild OSA, utilizing a strict inclusion criterion to ensure participants could safely tolerate their mouths being sealed during sleep. Researchers employed a 3M silicone hypoallergenic tape to secure the participants' mouths, aiming to shift nighttime breathing from oral to nasal. This method not only promotes the stability of the airway but could also potentially enhance the effectiveness of CPAP treatment by encouraging nasal breathing.
Participants underwent a home sleep test (HST) both before and after a week of mouth taping to compare changes in sleep parameters. Notable metrics such as the apnea/hypopnea index (AHI) and snoring index (SI) were closely monitored. A responder to the treatment was defined as someone who experienced at least a 50% reduction in their baseline snoring index.
The results were promising. Out of the 20 participants, 65% showed a positive response to mouth taping. There was a significant reduction in the median AHI, dropping from 8.3 to 4.7 events per hour—a 47% decrease. This improvement was most pronounced when participants were sleeping on their backs. Snoring frequency also saw a substantial reduction, halving from an average of 303.8 events to 121.1 events per hour.
Moreover, while the average oxygen saturation levels didn’t change markedly, there were significant improvements in the oxygen desaturation index and the lowest saturation levels, suggesting better overall oxygenation during sleep.
The study’s findings suggest that mouth taping could serve as an effective preliminary or adjunctive treatment for individuals with mild OSA, particularly those who breathe through their mouths. By encouraging nasal breathing, mouth taping not only reduces the severity of sleep apnea but also diminishes snoring, thereby potentially enhancing sleep quality and compliance with other treatments like CPAP.
The researchers conclude that for patients with mild OSA, mouth taping might be considered before escalating to more invasive treatments such as CPAP or surgical interventions, especially in those who are comfortable with the practice and exhibit a good initial response. This simple intervention could be a game-changer for improving the quality of life in individuals suffering from mild sleep apnea.
Credits: Lee YC, Lu CT, Cheng WN, Li HY. The Impact of Mouth-Taping in Mouth-Breathers with Mild Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Preliminary Study. Healthcare (Basel). 2022 Sep 13;10(9):1755. doi: 10.3390/healthcare10091755. PMID: 36141367
