If you told me a year ago that I would be going to bed each night with tape across my mouth, I would have assumed we were heading into a very different kind of lifestyle column.

But no, this is not bedroom bondage.

It is called mouth taping, and believe it or not, it is one of the simplest, strangest and most effective little wellness habits I have tried.

The idea is simple.

Our bodies are designed to breathe through our noses, not our mouths.

Nasal breathing filters, warms and moisturises the air we take in.

It regulates oxygen and carbon dioxide more efficiently and even signals our nervous system to relax.

Mouth breathing, on the other hand, is a bit like leaving a window open during a dust storm: unfiltered, drying and not particularly helpful for sleep or oral health.

When we breathe through our mouths overnight, we are more likely to snore, wake with a dry mouth or feel foggy and fatigued.

Over time, it can even contribute to jaw tension and higher stress levels, which is the opposite of restorative sleep, no matter how stylish your pyjamas are.

I tried nasal tape on its own first, and the results were amazing straight away: you can literally feel your nasal passage open up and the airflow is unreal.

Then I added mouth tape.

It definitely felt weird, not to mention how ridiculous I looked – I took a couple of selfies for a giggle, but they will never see the light of day!

By the third night, I was sold.

I slept better.

My mouth was not dry.

My jaw felt relaxed.

I was sleeping deeper, dreaming more and waking with a steady sense of energy that felt new but natural.

There is science behind it too.

Nasal breathing boosts nitric oxide production, which helps with circulation, immunity and focus.

It supports the parasympathetic nervous system, the part responsible for rest and recovery.

Essentially, it is a natural sedative that does not come in a bottle.

If you want to try it, start gently.

There are specific mouth tapes made for this purpose, soft, skin-safe strips that keep your lips comfortably sealed without feeling restrictive.

Please do not use duct tape or sticky notes.

Try it while reading or resting before bed to get used to the sensation, then build up to overnight.

I bought mouth tapes online from GOAT (greatest of all tapes) that have a little hole for drinking water — it looks super creepy, but I feel less claustrophobic and prefer the option to sip from my water bottle at night.

Like most wellness experiments, mouth taping sounds strange until you try it.

But it is surprisingly low tech, inexpensive and genuinely effective.

You do not need an app, a gadget or a guru, just a small piece of tape and a curious mind.

And perhaps a sense of humour.

Because there is something undeniably funny about explaining that the secret to your better sleep and morning glow involves tape for your face.

It is not glamorous, but it is quietly transformative, a reminder that sometimes the smallest, weirdest shifts can help us breathe a little easier, sleep a little deeper and wake up feeling brand new.

Benalla Ensign Google News Panels

Sunday, 19th December 2027

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