Dry mouth

amykirouac · Post by **amykirouac** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 10:50 am

I use my humidifier all the way up and I still get dry mouth. Any suggestions.
Amy

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 11:33 am

You may be mouthbreathing. If so you may also be loosing the benefits of your treatment. Taping of a FF mask are the answers, not the ones people like to hear, but the ones that work. Jim

inacpapfog · Post by **inacpapfog** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 1:11 pm

Goofproof is probably right about the cause of your dry mouth. Please, look into solving that question, as mouthleaks can render your cpap therapy ineffective!
In the meantime, you might try any of the Oral B products that aim at moisturizing the mouth. Mouthwash, toothpaste and gel are usually available at WalMart, Walgreens or most any drug store

amykirouac · Post by **amykirouac** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 2:56 pm

Not quite sure what you mean by taping the FF of the mask. I am a mouth breather and that is why my mouth gets very dry from the air, when I try to breath out of just my nose then I feel like I am suffocating due to nasal passages always feel blocked. None of the air leaks out of the mask so there are no worries there.

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 3:09 pm

If you are using a FF Mask and it's not leaking, it sounds like bad conjestion, I use OTC to free up my breathing just before bed, I'm not supposed to but you've got to breath.

I have noticed that when the nose gives up and you have to breath through your mouth with a FF Mask you do dry out, maybe a little midnight shot of cold water and maybe a spoon of honey will start the juices flowing. Maybe extra cold water before bed, I take a small aspirn with med's at bed with Ice water. Jim

krousseau · Post by **krousseau** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 3:26 pm

I think Goofproof meant taping OR FF mask.

But you already know you are a mouth breather and are already using a FF mask. Mouthbreathing can lead to dry mouth even with a humidifier-so oral moisurizers may be the solution for you. I am not familiar with your equiment so have no specific suggestions re the humidifier except to make sure it is working. Could there be additional leakage during sleep that you are not aware of?

Do you know why you breathe through your mouth? If nasal obstruction are there any treatments you have tried? If it is just your mouth popping open with PAP maybe the right chinstrap would help.

Charina · Post by **Charina** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 3:58 pm

The mouth's membranes just cannot replenish moisture like nasal membranes can. Even with a good humidifier, you are going to get some dry mouth.

Is it something you can live with? It took some time, but eventually I've become used to it. It doesn't bother me a bit now, just part of a normal bad nights sleep. (really, it doesn't have much to do with the bad night for me).

amykirouac · Post by **amykirouac** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 7:01 pm

Thanks everyone. I will try the advise and let you know.

sidesleeper · Post by **sidesleeper** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 7:30 pm

amykirouac wrote:Thanks everyone. I will try the advise and let you know.

The only solution to preventing a dry mouth is to make sure it stays closed. One cheap option is to use a chin strap but it leaves bad marks and I recently read that it causes more apneas/hypopneas because the force it applies narrows the airway.

If you don't mind spending a bit more, you can get a FF mask that has a chin flap such as the Hybrid or the HC431 mask.