A viral TikTok trend pushing nighttime mouth taping to curb snoring and boost rest has doctors sounding alarms, calling it a risky gimmick that could worsen breathing disorders or even suffocate users, with no solid science backing its perks.

Experts like Dr. Kimberly Hutchison, a sleep specialist at Oregon Health & Science University, stress the small studies show scant gains, outweighed by dangers. "The benefits are modest, and the potential risks are there," she said, noting how taping can aggravate sleep apnea—where airways repeatedly block—potentially slashing oxygen and spiking daytime fatigue or long-term woes.

Nose breathing trumps mouth gulps for adults, filtering allergens and dodging dry throats or bad breath that come with open-mouthed nights. Yet Hutchison and Emory's Dr. David Schulman agree: tape isn't the fix. "There are better ways," Schulman advised, pointing to CPAP machines or custom mouthguards that prop airways open, plus lifestyle tweaks like shedding pounds or ditching smokes to ease snoring's root.

Cleveland Clinic's Dr. Brian Chen flags mouth breathing as a red flag for apnea, tied to snoring and fitful sleep that drains daily vigor. "Any drop in sleep quality hits you over time," he warned.

The safest bet? A home or lab sleep study to pinpoint causes, empowering informed choices over hasty hacks.