How a Simple Habit Transformed Steve's Sleep, Health, and Daily Life

When Steve first heard about mouth taping on a Mike Mutzel podcast over a decade ago, he'll admit it sounded "very odd." But as someone who noticed he was mouth breathing throughout the day and suspected he was doing the same at night. He was willing to try anything.

"I'm kind of into trying those things, experiment of one on myself, try to make myself feel better," Steve explains. That willingness to experiment would lead to a 15-year journey that dramatically improved his sleep quality, reduced his stress-related teeth grinding, and eventually brought his whole family into the practice of nasal breathing.

The Nightly Ritual: Three Pieces of Surgical Tape

Like many mouth taping pioneers, Steve started with whatever he could find: surgical tape from the pharmacy. But not just any application would do. Each night, he'd pull out small scissors and cut three different pieces, "a main mouthpiece and a couple other pieces," carefully assembling them to create an effective seal.

"I was in a routine. I know the lengths that I had to cut each piece. And I just did that every single night," he recalls.

The results were worth the effort. Over time, Steve noticed his chronically congested nasal passages began to clear. "My nostrils were kind of plugged where it was actually kind of difficult at first to mouth tape because I didn't get enough air through," he remembers. "I've noticed that as time's gone by, my nasal passages just work better in general."

Beyond Better Breathing: Unexpected Benefits

For Steve, who describes himself as "someone that's chronically stressed," the benefits extended far beyond clearer airways. The nightly practice of nasal breathing had a surprising effect on a problem he'd struggled with for years: teeth grinding and jaw clenching.

"I used to clench my jaws a lot and grind my teeth. I've noticed that I clench a lot less because of that breathing pattern. And I noticed that I grind my teeth a lot less at night too."

His dentist appreciated the results, even if the dental profession as a whole hasn't fully embraced mouth taping. When Steve asked a prosthodontist about the concept, the response was telling: "Oh absolutely yeah," the doctor said, describing the jaw position benefits. "That makes a ton of sense."

The Simply Breathe Difference

After years of his DIY nightly routine, Steve discovered Simply Breathe mouth tape and the difference was immediate. The concerns he'd juggled with various athletic and surgical tapes such as poor adherence or painful removal disappeared.

"It applies really really well onto facial hair where it still creates a seal, but then when you take it off, it doesn't rip off a bunch of hair in the process," he explains. The gentle removal was particularly important for Steve, who maintains facial hair.

But perhaps the most practical innovation was Simply Breathe's sheet format. For someone who travels frequently for business, this was a game-changer. "When I travel on business, what I do is I count how many nights I'm going to be away. And then I'll actually just cut with scissors through the plastic for how many nights I need," Steve explains. The pre-cut strips stay protected on the sheet until needed and no more hunting for loose tape or dealing with static-y plastic backers scattered around the house.

A Family Practice

Today, Steve's commitment to better breathing has expanded to his entire family. Both of his daughters, ages 8 and 12, have adopted the practice. As Steve notes, it's become as routine as brushing teeth and is just as important for their long-term health.

The mouth taping fits into Steve's comprehensive approach to sleep hygiene, which includes a chili pad, eye masks, blackout curtains, and mindful choices about alcohol consumption. "I think it's really important to lock down sleep in general," he says. "So I think it's okay even for guys to be super high maintenance about their sleep."

The Power of Commitment

Steve's 15-year journey with mouth taping demonstrates what's possible when we commit to understanding our bodies and optimizing our health. From those early days of cutting three pieces of tape every single night to the seamless routine he maintains today with Simply Breathe, his dedication has paid dividends in better sleep, reduced stress symptoms, and improved overall wellness.

"There's a big blue sky" for mouth taping awareness, Steve believes. "I think that most of my friends that I talk about this with, they have not heard of it." For those willing to experiment, as Steve was all those years ago, the benefits speak for themselves.