Mouth Breathing (again - sigh) (DIY appliance)

ehusen · Post by **ehusen** » Wed Aug 31, 2005 3:32 pm

Hello all,

Well I though this problem was going away but, of course, it has reared its ugly head again.

So I've been looking through what I can do. FF mask is a last resort for me (more money and sounds like it ain't that workable in several cases).

So I ordered a chin strap but I don't think I will like that either. But we will see. (I tried the ACE bandage and that was just way too hot and uncomfortable)

I have also orderd the "Dr. Sue Device" but that will be a while before I see that.

So I tried frequenseeker's nifty DIY appliance. Unfortunately, it didn't seem to work so well. I don't understand how just having one section attached to your top teeth helps. I did suceed in putting the thing togethor properly, I think. And while I'm awake it does seem to push my tongue back. But then I fall asleep and it seems to sort of slide out because my lower jaw drops.

Is this device supposed to be used in conjunction with a chin strap too? My main problem seems to be my jaw just "falling" open. If I keep my mouth closed, I seem to do okay. I don't see how the DIY appliance can help with that problem.

In other news teh freeze it and use a dremel worked great for trimming.

snork1 · Post by **snork1** » Wed Aug 31, 2005 4:00 pm

My personal variation on the DIY seems to be sufficient to work with my range of mouth drop.

I could see that you MIGHT need a LIGHT DUTY, loosely adjusted, chin strap, just to keep your mouth from dropping too far, depending on your DIY device and your mouth geometry. I am sure you could find the materials for a light duty chin strap in the "accessories" department of any fabric store for a buck or two.

This would still be much more comfortable and much more effective than a large chin strap tightly clamped.

chrisp · Post by **chrisp** » Wed Aug 31, 2005 4:11 pm

Do it on the cheap. Use TAPE. It WORKS

:twis ted:

Barb (Seattle) · Post by **Barb (Seattle)** » Wed Aug 31, 2005 4:54 pm

oops, wrong thread LOL

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Wed Aug 31, 2005 5:05 pm

The frequenseeker "DIY" I made allows me to have my mouth hanging open, and stays put fine through toss 'n turn sleeping.

I guess the trick to having it stay in place is how well you work with the front to mold it snugly to the upper teeth without allowing it to make contact with the outside of the front gum. Just mold it as tightly as you can to at least the top front 4 teeth, preferably the front 6 teeth. The center "blob" I added is big enough to keep my tongue back. Blob and tongue pressing against each other probably help keep it in place, too.

The first one I made...I tried to use the entire mouthguard on all my upper teeth, all the way around the back molars too. That caused a lot of sore spots by morning, so I kept cutting off more and more of each side with scissors. Eventually I had it so narrow that it attaches to only my front teeth...the upper incisors. Stays in place perfectly night after night with jaw totally relaxed, mouth hanging open. No irritation anywhere. No leaks.

The first one I ever made didn't work at all. Takes a lot of trial and error, but when you finally get it designed in a way that's comfortable and works, "nifty" is the word for it!