Jaw Dropping

I just got my cpap a few nights ago, but immediately recognized a basic design problem, which makes me wonder how it works for anyone. As I sleep, on my back, my jaw relaxes and falls open and back, allowing my tongue to fall back and block my air way. Wearing the cpap does nothing to prevent this. Thus, when my jaw drops open, it opens an airway over my tongue, so all of the air pressure coming in through my nose simply escapes out my mouth. Or, even with my jaw shut, if my tongue just moves slightly out of position, it still allows the air pressure to escape.
I don't understand why this hasn't come up, or wasn't anticipated, before I got my cpap. The pictures of people wearing cpap show them lying flat on their back with their mouth shut. That makes a nice snapshot, but how is a person supposed to hold their mouth shut like that while sound asleep? Am I missing something? Am I the exception? Do you all just naturally keep your mouths shut all night?
I recognize that a full face mask should alleviate this problem, but at that point I'm thinking an oral device would actually be equally effective, and less disturbing.

It is recommended that you avoid sleeping on your back because of the reasons you mentioned. Millions of people have figured it out and use their CPAPs without problems. I don't understand the "basic design problem".

creativers wrote:I just got my cpap a few nights ago, but immediately recognized a basic design problem, which makes me wonder how it works for anyone. As I sleep, on my back, my jaw relaxes and falls open and back, allowing my tongue to fall back and block my air way. Wearing the cpap does nothing to prevent this. Thus, when my jaw drops open, it opens an airway over my tongue, so all of the air pressure coming in through my nose simply escapes out my mouth. Or, even with my jaw shut, if my tongue just moves slightly out of position, it still allows the air pressure to escape.
I don't understand why this hasn't come up, or wasn't anticipated, before I got my cpap. The pictures of people wearing cpap show them lying flat on their back with their mouth shut. That makes a nice snapshot, but how is a person supposed to hold their mouth shut like that while sound asleep? Am I missing something? Am I the exception? Do you all just naturally keep your mouths shut all night?
I recognize that a full face mask should alleviate this problem, but at that point I'm thinking an oral device would actually be equally effective, and less disturbing.

creativers,

Might want to try using a neck collar as many people have found that helpful regarding jaw drop. Regarding using a FF mask, many people who use them still have that problem so it wouldn't be a guarantee you would solve it.

I have to sleep on my back for medical reasons. I have used multiple masks and have solved the dropping jaw issue by using either a chin strap or the soft cervical collar. You can do it...just have to find the method and/or mask, strap, collar combo that works for you.

I tried the shirt with the tennis balls attached to the back in discourage back sleeping and many more combinations to make me stay on my side. Unfortunately my hip and lower lumbar pain could not handle that side sleeping. The main thing is to keep at it till you learn which combo works for you!

I have been using a cpap for some years with a full face mask and recently (yesterday) changed to a nasal mask.
I recognize exactly what you are talking about (which is not a problem with a full face.)
I have to consciously position my tongue as I fall asleep to prevent air leaking out of my mouth
Sleeping flat on my back with no pillow is more likely to cause leaks from my mouth, a pillow to keep my head up is better or at least not have my head tilted back.
(If you think about the head back open airway position in first aid EAR it's obvious this isn't the best position for cpap with a nasal mask)
Perhaps your starting pressure needs to be a little higher to keep your tongue out of the way?
If you can't keep your mouth closed there are chin straps available.
Why am I sticking with the nasal mask? I get hugely improved AHI compared to full face.

Some of us tape our lips together with 3M Micropore tape every night and this completely stops mouth breathing, regardless of sleeping position. Sometimes it takes some work to find out what works best for you.

I tape....works for me...and I had a lot of mouth breathing/air pooling problems in the beginning. Just try it .

I have been having large leakage issues over the past month or so. I started CPAP in April of this year sleeping mostly on my side. Over the last few months my sleeping position has been mostly on my back. Back sleeping position has been great as it relieves shoulder pain if I am sleeping on my side for a few hours. Lately I have the red smiley face on the machine in the morning. I have replaced the pillows and headgear to no avail and could not figure out what the problem was. In the past, leaks around the nasal pillow would wake me up, but I haven’t been woken by leaks in a while. Does this sound like a jaw dropping issue?

LSAT wrote:It is recommended that you avoid sleeping on your back because of the reasons you mentioned. Millions of people have figured it out and use their CPAPs without problems. I don't understand the "basic design problem".

Actually LSAT, this is only recommended if you are not using a cpap and need one. Once you have therapy, sleep any way you want that maximizes your sleep. Sleeping on your side as you get older can cause back problems. Then, if all else fails, sleep on your side.

A full-face mask + partial(vertical) mouth taping does the job very well. You have to experiment how to tight you close your mouth initially before applying the tap. Neither collar nor chin-strap worked for me

While side sleeping is preferred for people with Apenea any of us HAVE learned to sleep in any position with our mouths shut without chin straps or other aids. It can be done. The tongue is key to sealing off the airway. Practice all day keeping your tongue on the roof of your mouth, just behind the front teeth. With practice, you may find you can carry it over at night.

Meanwhile, a FF mask is not necessarily the solution if you sleep on your back for a number of reasons:
1. FF masks tend to push the lower jaw back farther, making more impingement on the airway.
2. If you open your mouth in a FF mask the relaxed jaw can alter the seal on the mask and cause large leaks.
3. If you open your mouth in a FF mask, your mouth will get VERY dry.

So, to summarize:
1. Learn to sleep on your side if you can.
2. Learn to keep your mouth sealed shut if you can.
3. If you can't keep your mouth sealed shut naturally, then use aids like taping, chin straps, neck braces.
4. A full face mask helps, but it's not a cure-all if your mouth falls open.

Thank you all for your responses. Neither the Dr, nor the cpap supplier addressed these issues.
I honestly assumed that I would have to always sleep on my back. Although I do gravitate toward my back, I do also feel the need to switch it up through the night. So I was sneaking onto my side, but I will feel freer now to sleep on my side.
I had imagined that a FF would be more leak-prone, which many of you confirmed.
I had not heard of taping my lips shut. That may very well work.
One more question: I also have an appt to discuss oral devices with my dentist. Do any of you have experience with those?

This is what I am trying at the moment, apparently it just takes time and practice.

(from another forum)
place tongue behind front teeth on roof of mouth and suck gently to create a slight vacuum. Make a habit of holding your tongue in this position. If you can make this a habit, you will not need a chinstrap.

However I'm still struggling with dry mouth so obviously not doing too well ATM even though my AHI has improved out of sight with the nasal mask.