air buildup

My husband is new to the whole CPAP experience and tells me that he gets a buildup of air in his mouth and has to remove the mask to let it out. Is he doing something wrong or does he just need to get used to it?

samismom wrote:My husband is new to the whole CPAP experience and tells me that he gets a buildup of air in his mouth and has to remove the mask to let it out. Is he doing something wrong or does he just need to get used to it?

It is what we call chipmunk cheeks.

What kid of equipment is he using, what kind of mask?
It is hard to help when we don't know what he is driving.

You may search the forum on chipmunk cheeks, or chin straps for ideas.

samismom wrote:My husband is new to the whole CPAP experience and tells me that he gets a buildup of air in his mouth and has to remove the mask to let it out. Is he doing something wrong or does he just need to get used to it?

I have had the same problem. I notice that air buildup does not occur when tongue touches front upper teeth. If it does not, due to CPAP therapy, air starts to build up under the cheeks and eventually forces my mouth open.

There are a few alternatives to solve it:
1) some people around here suggest training to keep one's tongue in the proper position by touching upper front teeth;
2) try a few commercial solutions such as Nose Breathe, Good Morning Snore Solution (haven't tried yet myself, just ordered);

Both the alternatives require nose breathing only, which is the best and only proper way of breathing perceived by many specialists, unless mouth breathing is the only alternative for some reasons.

Things that I have tried but that didn't work too well for they only attempt to keep the mouth closed without addressing the real problem, I believe:
Chin-straps, cervical collar, mouth guards, mouth taping

I believe that only a handful of people are able to realistically and consistently not mouth breathe by only keeping their tongues in back of their teeth. And I wonder how they can be sure (software or not) that they actually do it all night. So I would look at some of those other solutions mentioned in the last note.

Julie wrote:I believe that only a handful of people are able to realistically and consistently not mouth breathe by only keeping their tongues in back of their teeth. And I wonder how they can be sure (software or not) that they actually do it all night.

I suppose: if w/o full face mask, then check for the leak graph; if with ffm, then indirect indicators would be: chipmunk cheeks, leaks, dry mouth

I have a FFM and find that I only get the chipmunk cheeks when I'm on my back. If I turn on to either side, then somehow it just works better.

When you lay on your back gravity take over, it pulls you lower jaw and tongue back, that take the tongue away for the top/front of the mouth and opens the mouth to the air pressure in your throat and walla chipmunk cheeks. I had the same problem, my soultion was to get a boil and byte mouth guard (snore stopper) available on ebay for less than $3.00. You heat it in hot water and put it in you mouth and move you lower jaw forward slightly and byte down lightly (as per the instruction in the package). Take it out and cool under cool water. Use it at night (tape mouth closed if necessary) and after a few nights to get accustomed to it ... no more chipmunk cheeks, and much lower AHI.
After a few weeks I decided to see a sleep dentist and have a good one made:

http://www.dentalsleepapnea.com/Oral_Ap ... herapy.htm

I have been using it for two weeks now along with my cpap set at 4 cm. and consistently have AHI less that 1.0 last night was 0.30
I will be going for another sleep study to make sure it is preventing sleep apnea (AHI below 5 ) without cpap.
Wish me luck .

I agree with Julie that probably anyone (or everyone) can get air coming out via the mouth.
One can fight it with chin straps, tape, poli grip, or even a neck brace, for varying success.
The bright side is that for many of us, the internal muscles eventually learn how to direct air in the right direction,
and the problem becomes ldess frequent over time. I stopped torturing myself when i realized my leak rates
differed very little when I forgot to do the "bondage thing", so I stopped doing it.!

...while i am eagerly awaiting the arrival a couple of tongue stabilizing devices to try, i wonder if i can construct something myself. That "something" should safely glue to a mouthpiece and have a bulb that elevates tongue a bit to touch the upper teeth and thus prevent air from escaping. Any ideas on materials to use? Something like a big baby pacifier but can reliably plug in...