Do Spiders Actually Crawl in Your Mouth at Night?
WouterSpiders can be a frightening creature. They have long legs, fangs, silk, and are predators. Many people are afraid of spiders and many are even afraid of being bitten by them.
However, there is no scientific evidence to prove that a spider would actually crawl in your mouth while you sleep. This urban legend is popular on social media and email chains, but there is no real basis for it.
It is also important to note that most spiders are solitary. If a spider wants to bite you, it needs to climb on top of you. During light sleep, people tend to swallow less.
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine has researched the swallowing patterns of sleepers. Approximately 25% of the mouth opens while sleeping. Considering that spiders can only fit into about 25% of the opening, it is unlikely that a spider would make it into your mouth.
Arachnids use their sense of smell and vibrations to detect prey. When they detect a person they do not want to interact with, they warn with vibrations. Often, the snoring of a sleeper creates these vibrations, and the spider is likely to get scared and run away.
As far as a spider falling in your mouth while you are asleep, this is a very rare occurrence. In fact, it is so rare that if you ever saw a spider fall from the ceiling while you were sleeping, it would be reported in the news.
