Let me tell you my story…

My entire life I've been a mouth breather. I didn't realize how this could affect facial development, teeth structure, sleep quality, and athletic performance. No one corrected me until my junior year when I joined the track team. That's when I first learned about breathing technique. I decided to take a break from basketball to try track, and one of my best friends on the team told me to breathe through my nose. I tried it after running sprints, but it felt horrible—like I couldn't breathe—and I never understood what benefits were actually happening. I was 17 at the time and didn't think much of it because I was in good shape, had lost weight, and ate healthy.

After graduating college, I started working full-time in the marketing department of a law firm in NYC. The commute was brutal—2.5 hours each way. At first, I thought I was living the dream: my first corporate job, earning a real salary, making an impact at work, enjoying happy hours with friends, and playing in basketball rec leagues in Manhattan after hours. But while focusing on climbing the corporate ladder and embracing NYC's social life, I neglected my health. Poor habits crept in: drinking, smoking, late nights, unhealthy eating, and skipping the gym.

Soon, I noticed troubling symptoms. I'd wake up with a sore jaw and sensitive teeth. My girlfriend pointed out that I would snore, grind my teeth, and talk in my sleep. I was constantly exhausted. During my train commute home, I'd doze off only to wake myself up with my own snoring or embarrassing sleep noises. I thought it was normal to need a glass of water by my bed and wake up with a dry mouth. The middle-of-the-night wake-ups, sleep talking, teeth grinding, and morning breath became routine. These issues spawned more unhealthy habits, leaving me drained, overweight, and unhappy.

 

This continued for years, but basketball remained my saving grace. Not only did it help keep me in shape, but it also connected me with friends from diverse backgrounds. I prided myself on being a team player who could adapt to different playstyles and help secure wins.

One day in 2019 I met Chris, a guy in his mid-30s who had the speed and athleticism of a college athlete, plus incredible skill and knowledge of the game. we had guys who were former professional and college players at these open runs and he was able to score on anyone and everyone without any effort. He was roughly 6’0 but dunking it with two hands easily. I was impressed—not only was he an amazing player, but he was in such great shape for someone older than me. I wanted to recruit him for one of my rec league teams. After following him on Instagram, I noticed he was training the Philadelphia 76ers back in 2019, working with players like Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, Tobias Harris, and Al Horford. He appeared in videos helping them stretch and do various exercises.

The next time I saw him on the court, I asked if he was a personal trainer or physical therapist. His answer shocked me—he was a manual therapist. "What's a manual therapist?" I wondered. He explained that he teaches people how to breathe. I was confused: "What do you mean you teach people how to breathe?"

Chris explained that humans develop poor breathing habits early in life, and these habits can have serious negative effects. Poor breathing can lead to sleep apnea, which affects not just athletic performance but overall health—including immune system, cognitive function, organ function, and even sexual health. I was amazed at how much breathing could impact all these areas.

That's when I first learned about mouth taping. Chris said the simplest way to start improving breathing habits was to tape your mouth shut while sleeping. "You're kidding, right?" I thought. He explained that taping forces you to breathe through your nose, which is the optimal way for breathing. It reduces snoring (a form of sleep apnea), leading to better quality sleep and fewer interruptions. It also prevents mouth breathing, which dries out your mouth and throat, potentially causing cavities and tooth decay from lack of protective saliva. A dry throat can lead to irritation, inflammation, and that persistent need to drink water at night.

Everything he described matched my symptoms exactly. Intrigued by his knowledge, I immediately went to Amazon and found mouth tape—20 pieces for $30. Though hesitant, I figured I had nothing to lose. The first few days were challenging; I genuinely worried about sleeping with tape over my mouth.

The results were immediate and remarkable. I experienced deeper, more restful sleep, no more midnight water breaks or bathroom trips, no dry mouth in the morning, and improved breath. Most surprisingly, my teeth grinding and sleep talking stopped, my jaw relaxed, my snoring gradually disappeared, and I naturally started breathing through my nose more often. These improvements from consistent mouth taping sparked positive changes throughout my life.

My energy levels at work soared. My breathing technique improved, enhancing my basketball and gym performance. As I got leaner and stronger, my momentum kept building. Excited by these results, I had to share with my friends. When I asked if anyone had issues with snoring or dry mouth, several admitted to similar problems. I shared my experience and introduced them to mouth taping. Like me, they were skeptical but curious enough to try. They bought the same tape from Amazon and saw significant improvements—their partners reported less snoring, and their morning dry mouth disappeared.

This success sparked something in me! Inspired by what I learned from Chris, I dove into research, discovering breathing techniques from around the world. I studied books and research from Stanford professors, renowned journalists, and pioneers like Wim Hof who pushed human limits. I realized this vital information wasn't widely known—many people don't understand how poor breathing habits prevent them from reaching their full potential. I wanted to share this knowledge and help others the way it helped me and my friends. This led me to start my own mouth tape brand with a mission to improve everyone's sleep quality and overall health—this was the beginning of Silent Seal.