Anyone using a Chin Strap with a FFM

Notice lately that Im doing some mouth breathing that is waking me up, and thought about using a Chin Strap with my FFM.

Is anyone using a Chin Strap with a FFM. If so how's it working out for you?

Thanks

there are a number of folks here that report success with a chin strap and the Resmed Quattro FX

I don't recall anyone using it with any other type of FFM

fdw wrote:Notice lately that Im doing some mouth breathing that is waking me up, and thought about using a Chin Strap with my FFM.

Is anyone using a Chin Strap with a FFM. If so how's it working out for you?

Thanks

Some people end up using chin straps with FFM's. 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!

I use it. And it does stop me from mouth breathing

fdw wrote: Is anyone using a Chin Strap with a FFM. If so how's it working out for you?

Thanks

A member who used to be quite active here suggested a homemade chin strap that works great for many of us who use the ResMed Quattro FX full face mask. It will probably work with others, too. You need a velcro strap about 14" long. Loop it over one of the lower straps, near the buckle, then under the chin and over the lower strap on the other side. Then join the two ends beneath the chin. It need not be tight, just snug.

It serves two purposes: 1) tends to keep the mouth closed, and 2) keeps the mask from riding up the face and exposing the mouth.

The member had a great picture of it. Maybe someone here can point to it.