Do you ever wake up with a dry mouth, sticky tongue, and that not-so-fresh breath?
I thought it was because of the winter air, until it happened in Portugal’s humid climate too.
Turns out, it wasn’t the dry air.
It was a scream from my nervous system.
Looking back, I’ve had this issue since childhood. I even remember asking my mom, when I was little, why my mouth felt so dry when I woke up.
Her advice? “Hang up a wet towel in your room.”
She meant well. But the problem wasn’t the air.
It wasn’t until I went deeper into respiration, applied neurology, and sleep science that things started to click.
A coach I trust mentioned mouth taping.
At first, I thought, “What? Tape my mouth shut? That sounds insane.”
And then survival mode kicked in:
“But what if my nose gets blocked and I can’t breathe?”
He said, “Your brain is smarter than that. It’ll wake you up. You won’t suffocate.”
So I tried it.
Not full-mouth tape. Just a small vertical strip.
Enough to guide my body back into nasal breathing without blocking airflow completely.
That night, I didn’t wake up with a dry mouth for the first time in weeks.
I actually felt rested.
Since I am doing it since years, I can tell it is a gamechanger. If I don’t have the tape with me if feel the difference every time.
Here’s the thing:
Mouth breathing is a stress signal. Your mouth is for food, not for breathing.
It dries out your airways, activates your stress response, and interrupts deep sleep.
Nasal breathing?
It calms your system, filters air, boosts oxygen delivery, and tells your brain, “You’re safe.”
Taping isn’t magic. But it’s a simple push in the right direction, toward a rhythm your body already connects with rest.
Sometimes the smallest tweaks make the biggest difference.
Your body is made for healing when you give it the right conditions.
Curious if your sleep struggles are tied to your nervous system?
Let’s find out together. Book a free call.
– Michi
Disclaimer: This isn’t medical advice — just something that worked for me. Always check with your body (or your doctor) before trying new tools.
Curious about how your own sleep could improve? Happy to chat.