When I first learned about the dangers of mouth breathing (not just during sleep but all the time) and the benefits of nasal breathing it really was eye opening to me. How could something so simple help so much?

It wasn’t long until I discovered Somnifix mouth strips but I had tried many other brands of mouth tape first. Mouth taping is just a mechanical way to force yourself into what’s called “nasal breathing”.

What’s cool about Somnifix mouth strips is that they force you to breathe through your nose for a full 8 hours.

“Finish each day before you begin the next, and interpose a solid wall of sleep between the two. Sleep is the best way to shut out all distractions, all demands on your time and attention. It allows the mind to reset, rejuvenate, and prepare for the challenges of tomorrow with a clear, rested focus.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Dangers of Mouth Breathing

Mouth breathing is really not healthy in a lot of ways. Did you know that when children breathe through their mouths instead of their nose it can alter the shape and bone structure of their face and jaws? If you want a couple really good books on this I recommend Mouth Matters; How Your Mouth Ages Your Body and What YOU Can Do About It and this one in particular about nasal breathing called The Oxygen Advantage: Simple, Scientifically Proven Breathing Techniques to Help You Become Healthier, Slimmer, Faster, and Fitter.

When you mouth breathe your tongue falls down and back resting on the bottom of your mouth. Instead it should be on the roof of your mouth with the tip right behind the front two teeth. This results in a narrow and elongated facial structure, crooked teeth, and potential orthodontic issues.

Since when have you ever heard that your child may need braces and a retainer because their mouths are open when they sleep? You’ll never hear that even from dentists or an orthodontist.

Not only is the size and structure of the jaw altered (resulting in a different shaped face entirely) but airways are also narrowed. This results in other respiratory issues, lung issues and health issues.

We know that people that suffer from sleep apnea, asthma or poor lung health in general have impaired airways, most likely from mouth breathing from when they were a child.

When you breathe through your nose, the air is filtered by the cilia. These tiny hairs not only filter the air but humidifies it as well. This way when that cleaner air hits your lungs, it’s more oxygen rich and doesn’t damage sensitive lung tissue. Lungs do not have their own antioxidant defense like other internal tissues.

My theory is that this constant assault to your lungs cause damage, oxidative stress resulting in inflammation and ultimately lung cancer. I can’t prove that at this point because there are (to my knowledge) studies proving this.

Mouth breathing prevents the body from utilizing carbon dioxide. We now know that carbon dioxide is helpful for many many health conditions. Carbon dioxide helps you to regulate hemoglobin which results in better oxygen absorption.

It sounds counterintuitive, but if you want more oxygen, breathe less.

When you breathe through your mouth you’re also impacting the pH of the blood, causing more acidity. We want our blood to have a balance between acid and alkaline. When you’re mouth breathing it tends to lean towards being in an acid state all night long.

Another issue with mouth breathing is that when your mouth is open all night long, it dries out. When there is no saliva in direct contact with the bacteria on your teeth, this results in cavities.

If you get cavities a lot, has anybody ever asked you if you’re a mouth breather when you sleep?

• Facial Structure Changes: Habitual mouth breathing during sleep in children can lead to a narrow, elongated face and crooked teeth due to improper jaw development.
• Reduced Lung Function: Mouth breathing bypasses the nasal passages’ filtering system, leading to poorer lung function, especially in asthmatics.
• Sleep Disorders: Increased risk of snoring and obstructive sleep apnea due to mouth breathing during sleep.
• Higher Respiratory Infections: The lack of filtration of airborne particles increases susceptibility to respiratory infections.
• Increased Stress Response: Mouth breathing often triggers upper-chest breathing, associated with stress and anxiety.

This is where the Somnifix mouth strips help so much. I’ll get more into why I love them below but what a game changer they’ve been for me.

“Sleep is the golden chain that ties health and our bodies together. It is the most profound form of rest and restoration our body can experience. When we deprive ourselves of sleep, we untie that chain, leaving ourselves vulnerable to both physical and mental health issues.” – Thomas Dekker

Benefits of Nasal Breathing

Nasal breathing is the 100% antidote to all the dangers of mouth breathing.

There’s a “resistance” when breathing through your nose. Have you ever felt that? When you first try it, it kind of feels like you’re not getting enough oxygen into your lungs. But after developing the “muscle” and discipline of nasal breathing, it gets easier over time.

This resistance results in roughly 10 to 20 percent more oxygen uptake which is incredible for your health and can enhance both resting and active states. Also, nasal breathing naturally warms, humidifies, and filters the air  you breathe before it gets to your lungs. This process not only protects your entire respiratory system from airborne irritants and pathogens but also ensures that the air you breathe is at the optimal temperature and humidity for proper gas exchange in your lungs.

It seems so simple yet so much is happening when you simply breathe through your nose. It’s like watching the morning sunrise. How could so many benefits be happening for your health and sleep simply by being outside during the sunrise or sunset?

Another great thing about nasal breathing is that you naturally produce more nitric oxide. NO as it’s called is a powerful molecule that can prevent cardiovascular issues, improve your immune system and even lung function.

When NO is produced in the sinuses of your nasal passageway goes to your lungs where it can help dilate blood vessels improve oxygen transportation (via hemoglobin) to tissues that really need it.

Oddly enough this entire process involving NO can help reduce blood pressure and plaquing in the arteries which may reduce your risk of a heart attack or stroke.

As with cavities, when was the last time your cardiologist told you to stop breathing through your mouth and begin nasal breathing in order to lower your risk of a heart attack? My guess is they’ve never mentioned that to you.

I can’t make any medical claims here but sleeping with the Somnifix mouth strips is a great way to improve your sleep (think…sleeping deeper and waking up rested) and your overall health. I’ll let you “read between the lines” on that one. 🙂

“Sleep is a fundamental human need, like breathing, eating, and drinking. It is one of the key pillars of health, along with nutrition and exercise. Without proper sleep, our bodies and minds simply cannot function at their best, leading to diminished productivity, creativity, and emotional well-being.” – Arianna Huffington

Why I Love Somnifix Mouth Strips So Much

As I mentioned at the beginning of this article I tried many other mouth tapes and Somnifix alternatives. I didn’t try them because I wanted to somehow avoid Somnifix, I just didn’t know about the Somnifix brand of mouth strips yet.

But once I found them, it was game over. I use them every night now for all the reasons I stated above.

Sure Somnifix mouth strips help my oral health and the health of my lungs. I like that, I’m not saying that I don’t. I think what I personally love the most is that I always wake up with more energy in the morning after I use them.

I notice a big difference in how I sleep and feel the next day depending on if I use them or not. Oddly enough they’re kind of addicting, in a good way.

To me all the health benefits are a “side effect” of using them because I just feel so good in the morning now.

Here are a few key points about why I love the Somnifix mouth strips so darn much.

• Gentle Adhesive: These strips are made with a hypoallergenic adhesive that is gentle on your skin, making them comfortable to wear throughout the night. They don’t rip the skin on your lips when you take them off in the morning.
• Breathable Design: Somnifix strips feature a small vent in the center (which is key), allowing a minimal amount of airflow in case of nasal congestion, ensuring safety while promoting nasal breathing. The longer I use them, the less nasal congestion I have.
• Non-Invasive: Unlike other devices for snoring or mouth breathing, Somnifix mouth strips are non-invasive and easy to use, providing you a simple solution to improve your sleep quality. It literally takes me 30 seconds to put it on before bed.
• Improves Sleep Quality: By encouraging nasal breathing, these strips can reduce snoring and the risk of sleep apnea, leading you to a more restful and uninterrupted sleep. My fav.
• Supports Oral Health: By preventing mouth breathing, the strips help reduce dry mouth, which can decrease your risk of cavities and gum disease.

“Sleep is the best meditation. It allows the mind to rest, bringing clarity and peace to our thoughts. In sleep, we let go of the troubles of the day, finding a calm within that strengthens us for whatever tomorrow may bring.” – Dalai Lama

Conclusion

I’ve noticed big changes to my sleep and my energy levels as a direct result of using the Somnifix mouth strips. I love the fact that they’re also helping me in other ways. If you have a sleep issue like sleep apnea, asthma or a lung condition, I’d work with a natural doctor who can best guide you with making changes to your health.

If you’re somebody like me who likes to try new things (especially when it comes to your sleep) I’d highly recommend trying these out. As always I like to give things 30 consecutive days to get a good gauge on whether or not the work.

If you use an Oura ring or a Whoop Band, you’ll be able to track noticeable differences over a 30 day period.

Just remember though, using the Somnifix mouth strips is just one piece of a much larger puzzle of things you can do to radically optimize the quality and quantity of your sleep.

Give them and try and let me know what you think.

Questions:

1. Did you know how dangerous mouth breathing actually is?
2. Did you know how it alters the shape of a developing child’s face?
3. Is one of your nostrils congested at night? Do you feel uneasy about using these because of that?

Comment below!