Controlling mouth leaks w/o tape or glue

[DreamStalker]

A while back, a couple of members asked about my non-taping anti-mouth leak system. Sorry it has taken so long but I was having trouble getting my pooter to cooperate with my camera upload and just hadn't taken the time to troubleshoot the problem til today.

As some of the more senior members may recall, I used to be able to control my mouth leaks without resorting to drastic measures like taping, glueing, stapling, or stitching the lips together.

Then as I lost a bunch of weight, I noticed that I had begun to mouth leak with small puffs of air. I suppose that I had lost some fat tissue around my neck and the throat geometry must have changed and I lost my envied ability to control my mouth leaks au naturel.

At first I resolved the leak issue as described in this post. Then, CraigP posted a similar solution using men's underwear elastic as shown here.

So CraigP gave me an idea to modify my system by using an ACE bandage (rather than men's underwear) and the remainder of the post explains how to do it.

Get yourself a roll of 2” or 3” wide ACE bandage (the one with clips though you will not use the clips, avoid the self-adhering type) and cut a piece about 8” to 11” long depending on your size.

8” for very small size mask headgear
9” for small size mask headgear
10” for medium size mask headgear
11” for large size mask headgear

When measuring for the cut, do so with ACE banadage unstretched in natural state. Then sew the ends together so that you end up with something like this -


What I do is basically wet my lips before putting everything on and then sort'a bite my lower lip as I slip on the ACE bandage.


I then put on my PapCap and chinstrap.


Then finally I put on my nasal pillow mask over the top and attach the hose to the PapCap with a velcro tie. It all takes less than a minute to get everything on and adjusted.


You can adjust the tension of the ACE bandage by gently pulling on the parts behind the chinstrap. The chinstrap has a dual purpose of holding your jaw from slacking open and also to keep the ACE bandage in place across your lips. Once all is adjusted, the upper lip is kept in place over the lower lip by the ACE bandage making an excellent seal. I wake up in the morning and my lips are slightly stuck together.

The cool thing is that if for any reason you have open you mouth to cough or talk or drink water, it is really easy to readjust everything back and quickly go back to sleep.

Hope it can work for someone else.

[fogman]

Great idea for stopping mouth leaks. And a great idea to provide us with pictures so that we can best understand just how it works.
I have been having mouth leak problems with little success using tape, mouthguards or chinstraps. Your solution looks like it would work for me and I plan to try it.
Thanks so much for sharing with us.
Fogmabn

[Gerald]

Nice work, Stalker.

The "overlapping lip" idea is one I haven't heard before. As a variation on what you're doing, I think I'll try the "overlap" technique with 3M Blue tape. I'm having an occasional "blowout" and your idea might stop it.

Gerald

[dtsm]

Nice work, Stalker.

The "overlapping lip" idea is one I haven't heard before. As a variation on what you're doing, I think I'll try the "overlap" technique with 3M Blue tape. I'm having an occasional "blowout" and your idea might stop it.

Gerald

I'm also going to try this starting tonight.
I've also ordered the new papcap plus 4 and will see how it works by itself; and if needed in conjunction with either blue tape or the ACE set-up. Many thanks for the very clear illustrations.

[sunnyway]

When I use the "horseshoe" shaped Chin-Up strips, I overlap my upper lip with my lower, and apply the strip below the lower lip . The wings are applied to my cheeks, and the tension holds the lips together. After application, upper lip is free to allow coughing during sleep. Strips can be adjusted by pulling cheek sections away from cheeks and reapplying them. I think that the Chin-Up strips are safer to use than taping over one's mouth. http://www.chinupstrip.com/

I just ordered a PapCap Plus and hoped that it would suffice, but I'll remember the ace bandage trick just in case.

[Jaylee]

That is a really good idea. But am I the only one who is wondering where StalkerMan got the head?

[formerdoc]

I use elastic wrist sweatbands in much the same manner

[DreamStalker]

That is a really good idea. But am I the only one who is wondering where StalkerMan got the head?

That's Wilson.

He's my laboratory assistant. Not the brightest one in the lab either.

BTW - I highly recommend the PapCap. It is by far the best chinstrap system on the market.

[dtsm]

Then finally I put on my nasal pillow mask over the top and attach the hose to the PapCap with a velcro tie. It all takes less than a minute to get everything on and adjusted.

For those who purchase the new pap cap plus 4, there is a built in 'loop' and velco strap included to handle the nasal pillow hose on top of your head.


Perfect for those who want to swivel their Fx hose upwards!

[autiger1985]

I have been on my CPAP for 5 years with no trouble whatsoever. But for about the past 3 months I have been having a problem with mouth leaks. I use the mirage swift nasal pillows. I had lost about 22 pounds before the problem and about another 22 since I started noticing the dry mouth and open mouth during the night. Why have I suddenly started opening my mouth after not doing so for almost 5 years? Should I maybe take my pressure back down? I started at 11, increased to 13 after weight gain, and now back at 11. Any thoughts anyone?

[LSAT]

I keep looking at all of these ideas and thinking to myself....Why don't they just try a Full Face Mask?

[breakfast]

I keep looking at all of these ideas and thinking to myself....Why don't they just try a Full Face Mask?

I wonder this myself, but it appears that they tend to make some folks claustrophobic. Waking up with a panic attack is as bad as waking up from the apnea.

[LoQ]

I keep looking at all of these ideas and thinking to myself....Why don't they just try a Full Face Mask?

I use a full face mask and STILL have to do something to keep my chin up. I use a home-made equivalent to the chin-up strip, which I find the most comfortable solution. So far.

[DreamStalker]

I keep looking at all of these ideas and thinking to myself....Why don't they just try a Full Face Mask?

Well please allow me to count the ways to placate your thought question.

10. There is more facial real estate for which to maintain an air seal with a FF mask.
9. The noise of all the FF masks I tried were "relatively" louder than the nasal pillow masks.
8. It is much more difficult to read a book with reading glasses with a FF mask than the nasal pillow mask I use.
7. The nasal pillow masks are generally less expensive than the FF masks (at least the ones I tried).
6. Folks with oily skin have a greater chance of losing the seal with a FF mask than a nasal pillow mask.
5. It is much harder to drink water without taking off a FF mask than with a nasal pillow mask.
4. It is harder to talk with a FF mask on than with a nasal pillow mask.
3. If power goes out while asleep, it is easier to quickly take off a nasal pillow mask than a FF mask.
2. The tension on the lower strap of a FF mask changes with position of head allowing for greater chance of leaks.
and the number one reason is ...
1. The lower strap tension on a FF mask pulls the lower jaw back in towards the throat worsening potential for OSA.

[socknitster]

I keep looking at all of these ideas and thinking to myself....Why don't they just try a Full Face Mask?

I'll tell you WHY! They don't make one that fits my face! I've tried every brand. At considerable personal expense. And none of them are made to fit my facial geometry. If the choice is between a full face mask that hurts and leaks and just plain doesn't work OR nasal pillows and some other kind of modification to keep your lips closed, what would you do?

What makes me angry about this? My facial geometry is a MAJOR CONTRIBUTING CAUSE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF OSA. Overbite. Weak chin. Whatever you want to call it. I heard a prominent New York sleep medicine doctor talking about OSA on Doctor Radio (a Sirius satelite channel) and he specifically said that it is documented that this type of face structure is a cause of OSA. So, you tell, me--why don't the manufacturers get a clue?

Things aren't always as simple as you might think.