It’s been a big summer for marathon-watching things on television. For some, it’s been the World Cup (finale coming soon). For others, it’s been the eighth season of Love Island USA, which concluded last night. I’ve been enjoying both. And while you might think the only overlap is glistening muscle men, there’s another commonality that delighted me. Both FIFA star Erling Haaland and Love Island bombshell Carl Lee Schmidt love mouth taping.
If this wellness trend hasn’t come across your news feed yet, you’re probably thinking, “mouth taping must be something other than what it sounds like,” but no—the practice involves taking a piece of medical tape to literally shut your mouth (and hold it that way) while you sleep.
Breathing predominantly through your mouth while sleeping may sound harmless, but studies have linked the habit to chronic fatigue and an increased risk of periodontal disease. There are a few ways to stop it, depending on the root cause (deviated septum, tonsils, and more), but taping your mouth shut is the easiest and most literal solution.
Freaky looking? Yes. Effective? Possibly. Acedotally, everybody from Manchester City striker Haaland, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Ashley Graham claims that mouth breathing leads to a more refreshing night’s sleep. And Schmidt’s so dedicated to the practice that he’s willing to be filmed for national television with his mouth taped shut. Hardcore.
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