New to cpap having dry mouth issues

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
seeing
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New to cpap having dry mouth issues

Post by seeing » Mon Oct 05, 2015 5:29 am

At 71 seems I was having a hard time getting rest so sleep test showed I had sleep apnea. Biggest problem in addition to just having it was waking up with a dry mouth and throat that was effecting my swallowing. So nose pillows was my first choice with chin strap. I am one that can adapt quickly if it helps me feel better which I did. Was using it full night in a only about three nights of use and could tell a difference but still had to wake up and drink a sip of water during the night. (keep water bottle by pillow) so after a period of time they suggested I try a full face mask which I have had for about four nights. It is fine I can sleep on my side again with out leaks but on auto climate I still wake up with dry mouth sip water and off again to sleep. Now trying to adjust moisture to help with dry mouth does anyone have a suggestion of where to set the humidity level I think I have it on 5 and tube air on 72 degrees. I know the c-pap is working as I feel much better in the mornings but it still leaving me with dry mouth and inside mouth feels like the rough edge of an orange from being dry however that is getting much better this morning. If I get humidity at right level will the dry mouth go away ?? Any suggestions would be appreciated. Res Med is the equipment I am using and I like the way it works if only I can get passed the dry mouth. Thanks Larry

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LSAT
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Re: New to cpap having dry mouth issues

Post by LSAT » Mon Oct 05, 2015 5:33 am

I'm sure you can get the help you need if you fill in your profile with your machine and mask . Hard to help without knowing what you are using.

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chunkyfrog
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Re: New to cpap having dry mouth issues

Post by chunkyfrog » Mon Oct 05, 2015 5:44 am

Please share any solutions that work. After over five years, my mouth gets dry.
Taping can only work if I have no congestion.
Full face masks DO NOT FIT ME. A straw makes access to water easier,
and brushing my teeth helps to minimize dental damage.
I REFUSE to sleep without my machine, so I just soldier on.
I know it is due to mouth breathing, but until someone makes a full face mask I can wear, I have no choice.

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hpm08161947
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Re: New to cpap having dry mouth issues

Post by hpm08161947 » Mon Oct 05, 2015 6:13 am

Chunky..... How do you know it is mouth breathing? I have an almost identical situation. Nothing fits my head, so I use nose pillows. Does mouth breathing show up as Large Leaks on SH graph? I have a lot of leaks, as I insist on rolling over with the nose pillow, maybe I open my mouth then. Dry mouth is an irritant, but I can't live without the cpap, so I soldier on.

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AlabamaAl
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Re: New to cpap having dry mouth issues

Post by AlabamaAl » Mon Oct 05, 2015 6:37 am

I have fought this problem ever since starting on cpap therapy. Have tried just about everything, but I still have to keep water beside the bed. I have come to the conclusion that some of us have an anatomy that, when combined with pressurized air is more prone to drying out. I have also noticed that salt intake does contribute to a dry mouth/ throat, along with sugar filled drinks, alcohol, etc.

No magic cures here, but still looking for that silver bullet. If I find one I will share...

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OkyDoky
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Re: New to cpap having dry mouth issues

Post by OkyDoky » Mon Oct 05, 2015 7:04 am

I sometimes get the dry cotton mouth where it's hard to swallow and I do not have leaks so there is something about the pressure and completely nose breathing that causes mine. If I remember to use Orajel for Dry Mouth it doesn't dry out. Mine is very intermittent so I may go for long periods where I don't have a problem, and I don't always use the Orajel, then suddenly it wakes me up.
ResMed Aircurve 10 VAUTO EPAP 11 IPAP 15 / P10 pillows mask / Sleepyhead Software / Back up & travel machine Respironics 760

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Pugsy
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Re: New to cpap having dry mouth issues

Post by Pugsy » Mon Oct 05, 2015 8:33 am

hpm08161947 wrote:Does mouth breathing show up as Large Leaks on SH graph?
Usually it does but I once did an experiment and while the mouth breathing leak showed up it was far from big leak territory. I was totally wake and mouth breathing just to see just how big the leak was with gentle mouth breathing.
seeing wrote: If I get humidity at right level will the dry mouth go away ??
Unfortunately even with a full face mask being used you may not be able to remedy the dry mouth even at maximum humidity. These humidifiers are designed more to hydrate the small nasal cavity and not the much larger oral/mouth cavity.
It's the mouth breathing that is the drying factor along with the fact that some people's bodies just have mouths that are much easier to dry out than other peoples. Maybe meds are a factor or maybe just bad luck.
It takes very little mouth breathing for my mouth to dry out and I don't take any meds that might make things worse. Like as little as 5 or 10 minutes of mouth breathing will give me a Sahara desert mouth.

You may need to add one of those products designed to help hydrate the mouth like Biotene or Ora Gel.
We have a forum full of people who complain about a dry mouth and use a full face mask and use maximum humidity.

You can try maximum humidity to see if it helps or not but just be aware that it doesn't always fix the dry mouth issues.

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