Do we swallow a certain number of spiders in our sleep each year?

The belief that we swallow spiders while sleeping is a common myth that has been circulating for years. However, there is no scientific evidence to support this claim, and it is unlikely to be true.

Spiders are not attracted to humans, and they do not seek out our mouths as a source of food. Moreover, spiders are typically nocturnal creatures and are more active at night, when we are also asleep. Nevertheless, spiders are able to detect vibrations and movement, so it is possible that they could accidentally crawl into our mouths while we sleep.

Nevertheless, even if a spider were to crawl into your mouth, it is highly unlikely that you would swallow it. The reflexes that protect our airways and prevent foreign objects from entering our lungs are very strong, and we are unlikely to swallow anything that does not belong in our mouths.