Tape Your Mouth Before Bed. Seriously!
Among all the weird & questionable trends that are blowing up nowadays - this one is actually interesting and makes a lot of sense. In short - more & more people are taping their mouths before going to bed in hopes of ‘sleeping better’ and becoming healthier. Here’s why:
The logic behind it is honestly quite simple: if you are strictly breathing through your nose, you increase nitric oxide production in the sinuses, which has been reported to reduce inflammation, improve sleep, memory and overall increase the functions of the immune system.
But it’s not just about getting better sleep & waking up more rested - there are quite a few downsides of mouth breathing. While many people already struggle with getting a good sleep and repeatedly complain about waking up tired & stressed out - mouth breathing might be to blame for that as it does increase stress responses and as you know, stress = bad sleep.
As if stress & messed up sleep wasn’t bad enough - mouth breathing takes it much further than that. It disrupts the balance of your orla microbiome & makes you prone to more tooth decay, leads to higher blood pressure, heart problems, worsens asthma and can even cause cognitive dysfunction. You best believe we will be going to sleep with a piece of tape over our mouths tonight..
Knowing that stress is the main stepping stone for many underlying issues listed above, there are a few ways to combat it aside from taping your mouth:
Deep Breathing Before Bed: Yes, we breathe all day long but we do it thoughtlessly. Deep breathing is a well-known relaxation technique you can really use at any time. If you’ve never done it, start by placing your hand on your stomach and inhaling slowly. When you feel your stomach rise, hold your breath for a moment, then exhale slowly!
Take the Stress Off the Gut: Sleep is supposed to be the rejuvenating nightly reset for your body - not the opposite! Improving your gut health, lowering inflammation and creating a pleasant internal environment all play an undeniable role in aiding & improving your sleep quality and better overall health.
Body Scan Meditation: This means concentrating on a specific part of your body, one at a time. This simply requires laying down and focusing your full attention on your body and looking for any noticeable sensations or pains. It might take some practicing before you nail down your mind-body connection, but it is an effective way to relax your body & prepare for a nightly rest.