The idea that we eat or swallow spiders in our sleep is a myth. Experts agree that while it is theoretically possible for a spider to accidentally crawl into a sleeping person's mouth, the chances are extremely slim to negligible. Spiders tend to avoid humans because of the vibrations from our breathing, heartbeat, and movements during sleep. Also, most people sleep with their mouths closed, making it very unlikely for spiders to enter. Additionally, any crawling sensation would likely wake the sleeper. The popular claim that people swallow an average of eight spiders a year in their sleep is entirely false and originated as a fictional example to show how easily misinformation spreads online.