Mouth Breather

[acctingman]

Other than a Velcro strap my doc gave me is/are there better options out there for a mouth breather like myself?

Thanks

[LSAT]

Full Face Mask was designed primarily for mouth breathers.

[strigiformes]

I use a mouth guard (double type, upper and lower) molded to to block the built-in breathing holes.

[Wulfman...]

Other than a Velcro strap my doc gave me is/are there better options out there for a mouth breather like myself?

Thanks

Nasal cleansing before bedtime and (probably) lower humidity setting.
(and a full face mask for "insurance")


Den

.

[TheDuke]

I have used several models of chin straps. Currently using PaP-Cap and believe it is the best type I have tried.

TheDuke

[tuna]

I personally had to train myself too not mouth breathe.. The chin strap was very uncomfortable for me..

[WickedVegas]

There is an oral mask called the Oracle HC452 Oral CPAP Mask made for mouth breathers!

It fits to your lips so there is less skin irritation and problems seen with full face masks, and made for us mouth breathers where the nasal masks aren't the best fit.

You could try that.

[sleepydc]

Other than a Velcro strap my doc gave me is/are there better options out there for a mouth breather like myself?

Thanks

Some people end up using chin straps with FFM's (full face masks). I tried and disliked chin straps.

For my FFM (full face mask) use I found it started working a whole lot better when I started using tape. For me, the "partial tape method" solves most of the issues with "mouth breathing" and "draw drop," which interrrupts the seal of a FFM (full face mask) because my face changes shape when that occurs and the seal is broken. It's not for everyone, but here's what I'd suggest:

I have now been using surgical tape for about a year now, and it has worked wonders and works very well for me. I use silk surgical type tape you can get off of Amazon, 2" wide. There's also a 1" wide version. If you gently pull it off in the morning, there's usually no problem. Just type something like "3M-Durapore-Silk-Tape 2 inches x 10 yards - box of 6" or the like on the Amazon site. For me, it works very well with a full face mask (FFM) -- the FFM helps prevent pressure problems if my jaw does open slightly, and the tape substantially prevents my jaw from dropping and also thereby keeps my face largely in the same "position" as I fall asleep (thereby avoiding the inevitable leaks that can occur when your facial shape changes from the point of initial placement/tightening of the mask). .

I was actually worried about not being able to breath with the tape if there was a shut-down. I've found that this set-up, however, offers very few worries:

For the silk tape, apply a 2inch wide strip vertically from a spot just above your upper lip (the indentation just below your nose) down to just under your chin (with your lips closed and your jaw in a comfortable place). As you bring the tape and press it underneath your chin, "fold" the edge back on itself (maybe a 1/2 inch or so) so that the edge hangs a bit from your chin -- makes for easier removal in case of emergency. Because it's only 2 inches wide and vertically placed, your entire mouth is actually not taped -- you can, in a pinch, breath around the edges -- and the silk tape itself I've found by accident (in opening my mouth with it being placed) will also let a little air in if you open your mouth forcefully. In short, it doesn't take too much force to maneuver or breath around the silk tape, but at the same time the tape seems to mostly keep my jaw from dropping when I relax and fall asleep, which is the whole point. [The setup also seems to work best when combined with the technique, described elsewhere on this site, of learning to relax with the tip of your tongue against the roof of your mouth as your mouth is closed, which "seals" the mouth from the nasal passage and helps prevent dry mouth]. (In placing the tape, I've also found it helpful to focus on firming the contact with the skin at the point below the nose and under the chin more than the lips, which seems to leave a little area of the lip region feeling less taped, if that makes sense). [To remove with less "tear", try pulling up vertically from underneath the chin till you reach your lip, then pull across "horizontally" for the remainder.]

The usual caveats about making up your own mind about this, considering safety issues, etc. apply, of course. But frankly, I'm surprised more people don't do this.

Good luck!

[ChicagoGranny]

There is an oral mask called the Oracle HC452 Oral CPAP Mask made for mouth breathers!

It fits to your lips so there is less skin irritation and problems seen with full face masks, and made for us mouth breathers where the nasal masks aren't the best fit.

You could try that.

You actually use that horrible thing??

[Oughtsix]

I personally had to train myself too not mouth breathe.. The chin strap was very uncomfortable for me..

Same here. I spent many frustrated nights acclimating myself to a nasal mask with the air rushing in my nose and out my mouth. That was 10 years ago and I am so glad I went through that frustration in the beginning. I use nasal pillows now and would hate having to use a full face mask. I found using the nasal mask while watching TV a good way to get used to blocking off my mouth breathing with my tongue. Before my CPAP I always would breath through my mouth because my nose was always blocked due to allergies. It wasn't pleasant transitioning to nose breathing but in my opinion it was worth it.

[ElizaNC]

[quote="tuna"]I personally had to train myself too not mouth breathe.. The chin strap was very uncomfortable for me..[/quote

How do you "train" yourself not to mouth breathe? I try and fall asleep with my tongue on the roof of my mouth blocking airflow from pillows, but I eventually open my mouth in my sleep. I'm trying to change from a Hybrid mask (Liberty) to nasal pillows and am having difficulty keeping my mouth closed all night. I've tried a chin strap and found it to be very uncomfortable and I'm hesitant to try taping. I'm curious how you control your mouth staying closed when you are asleep.

[Oughtsix]

I personally had to train myself too not mouth breathe.. The chin strap was very uncomfortable for me..

How do you "train" yourself not to mouth breathe? I try and fall asleep with my tongue on the roof of my mouth blocking airflow from pillows, but I eventually open my mouth in my sleep. I'm trying to change from a Hybrid mask (Liberty) to nasal pillows and am having difficulty keeping my mouth closed all night. I've tried a chin strap and found it to be very uncomfortable and I'm hesitant to try taping. I'm curious how you control your mouth staying closed when you are asleep.

When I started with my CPAP the air would rush in my nose and out my mouth. When this happened none of it would go into my lungs so I would wake up. Maybe this is just me?

I would watch TV and use my tongue to block air from escaping from my mouth not my lips to get used to nose breathing. It took several weeks and I would make it a little longer each night before I ripped the mask off my face in the middle of the night. Eventually I got comfortable with the nasal mask.

When I first started with my CPAP I requested a full face mask but the supplier talked me into the nasal mask instead. It was not easy making the adjustment to nose breathing but I am now very grateful I did way back then. Back then there were no hybrid masks so I am not really up on what a hybrid mask is.

I don't know how to better describe it other than it is tough and frustrating and happened slowly over weeks. I would suffocate if I didn't breath through my mouth before my CPAP. It took quite a while but I was able to change to nose breathing. I never used a strap or tape... mainly because there was no CPAP support forum back then to suggest such things.

[Caltulip]

I have been cpaping for a year and started with a full face mask because I was a life long mouth breather. After 7 months of enduring marks on my face from the ff mask, I decided to try a nasal mask. I tried the paper tape recommended by countless wonderful folks on this message board. It works- and the tape lets you breathe- its not like duct tape. I even find saliva on my pillow case that dribbles out the end.
My tongue stays on the roof on my mouth when I sleep and I am now using airfit nasal pillows , 1.6 ounces, and taping my mouth every night with excellent results. I encourage you to try it. If a senior can suddenly change from mouth breather to nasal breather using paper tape, anyone can.

[photonic]

There is an oral mask called the Oracle HC452 Oral CPAP Mask made for mouth breathers!

It fits to your lips so there is less skin irritation and problems seen with full face masks, and made for us mouth breathers where the nasal masks aren't the best fit.

You could try that.

You actually use that horrible thing??

I use the Oracle mask and find it amazingly comfortable. I am a heavy mouth breather - have been my whole life. I have scuba dived in the past and it is just like a regulator or snorkel. I use it in combination with the Hozer tube management device and when I get everything positioned right I hardly feel anything when breathing. I use a heated tube and the highest heat and my mouth is a bit dry in the morning but nothing dramatic. You must use humidity with it though. I also use the large size nose plugs that come with the mask. I learned to put them a little higher in the nose than the instructions and I really don't feel them. A nose clip was very painful and I abandoned that. Some on this board have learned to use no plugs.

If you really are a heavy mouth breather like me you owe it to yourself to try it. My DME said I would hate it, but I found it infinitely better than a traditional mask. By the way, you do not need to use the strap that comes with it. PM me if you would like to chat about. I am sold on it and been using for more than six months now. Happy guy.