More on Dry Mouth

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
mkirkwag
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More on Dry Mouth

Post by mkirkwag » Sun Apr 01, 2007 4:21 pm

My therapy is only about 45% effective. My leak level is normal, and I really don't think I'm mouth-breathing (my lip are practically sealed shut in the morning, and my tongue feels like it's glued to the roof of my mouth. BUT I have serious dry mouth that I didn't have prior to using the machine. The implication from what I've been reading is that if you have a humidifier and you aren't mouth-breathing, you shouldn't have dry mouth. Is that correct? Are you sure??



I'm using a Remstar M-series with a heated humidifier and a swift mask


dllfo
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Post by dllfo » Sun Apr 01, 2007 4:35 pm

Try Oasis at nationwide pharmacy's....watch for half price sale. $6.49 normal,
I found a nice manager at Walgreens...sold me 3 cases at half price.

Sorry, I meant to mention it is a spray, supposed to protect your gums and teeth from problems caused by dry mouth for up to 2 hours.

I rarely get dry mouth from my BiPap...other meds and problems cause it.

Good luck with your treatment.....

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Goofproof
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Post by Goofproof » Sun Apr 01, 2007 6:26 pm

You are probably mouthleaking, and that's a problem that keeps you from getting successful treatment on XPAP. You have to keep the pressure in your airway to hold it open. A FF Mask or taping your mouth shut are the two most sucessful solutions. Jim
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roster
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Post by roster » Sun Apr 01, 2007 6:44 pm

Did you have dry mouth before you started xpap therapy? If the answer is "No", then you probably are mouth breathing.

mkirkwag
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i still don't think so

Post by mkirkwag » Sun Apr 01, 2007 8:52 pm

I taped my mouth and my numbers didn't improve and my mouth was still dry, and here I am with my mouth sealed shut it the morning - it seems so unlikely to me that I'm mouthbreathing.

There's a line of products for dry mouth, and I do use them, but that's not really what I'm asking here. As I mentioned, this is new since getting the cpap - does no with a humidified unit really ever have this symptom unless they're mouth breathing?


vonda
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Post by vonda » Sun Apr 01, 2007 11:36 pm

I have also been having problems with extreme dry mouth to the point that I cannot get beyond about 5 hours sleep with the mask. I do tape at night, so its not a mouth breathing problem and I do have a heated humidifier set quite high. I am on blood pressure meds but the contraindictions do not state that dry mouth would be a symptom.


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roster
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Post by roster » Mon Apr 02, 2007 7:04 am

I get dry mouth when using my ff mask because I am mouth breathing. Back when I was taping my mouth and using a nasal mask, I never had dry mouth.

Your problem is a puzzle to me because I don't believe cpap could cause it if it can't circulate air through your mouth.


brackstone
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Post by brackstone » Mon Apr 02, 2007 7:34 am

I also had problems with a dry mouth waking me up when I was using my swift. I switched to a full face mask now and I don't have those problems anymore. I am still getting adjusted to my UMFF but cotton mouth has stopped.


mkirkwag
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OK - I'll try something else

Post by mkirkwag » Tue Apr 03, 2007 2:49 pm

I guess I'll just have to believe that I really am mouth-breathing and try a hybrid or a ff mask. DME is opposed to the hybrid because it doesn't work for so many people, but it seems like people either love it or hate it.


madmat
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Post by madmat » Tue Apr 03, 2007 3:34 pm

I am having similar issues on my bipap and full face mask, but i am actually waking up with my cheeks puffed out (full of air), my mouth still closed and very dry. That is the reason i found this place/stopped by here today. Btw, this is an amazing forum, you guys have so much info... i wish i had known about it before starting treatments 3 months ago.

my machine: respiratronics bipapplus m series lcd screen with heated humidifier and a ultra mirage mask.

i take no meds of any type.

settings: 22/16 <-- or as i call it, the face blast.


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Maryb
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Post by Maryb » Tue Apr 03, 2007 4:07 pm

mkirkwag-
I used to have mouthleaks too. It really seemed to me that I wasn't having mouthleaks but my mouth was always dry in the morning. I even had mouthleaks when I taped--air managed to burble out of my mouth corners and the tape made me sweat and drool (not pretty). What worked for me was a full face mask, the hybrid. Once I started using that, my AHI's came way down and the mouth leaking was under control. As of others have said, to control mouth leaking you need to either tape or use a full face mask. And drymouth is usually a sign of mouth leaks. I find that when I use the hybrid I rarely have dry mouth and my mouth seems to stay shut.
Good luck!

Maryb


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Vader
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Re: OK - I'll try something else

Post by Vader » Tue Apr 03, 2007 4:27 pm

mkirkwag wrote:I guess I'll just have to believe that I really am mouth-breathing and try a hybrid or a ff mask. DME is opposed to the hybrid because it doesn't work for so many people, but it seems like people either love it or hate it.
I've never had dry mouth with any full face mask, except the Hybrid.
I really like the mask but that seems to be one of it's drawbacks.

The most comfortable and trouble free setup for me is the Soyala nasal mask with a Ruby chinstrap. No problems whatsoever
.


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Inpjs
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Post by Inpjs » Tue Apr 03, 2007 5:18 pm

I use the Ultra Mirage full face mask and wake up at least twice a night becuae my mouth is so dry. I have to drink lots of water to get rid of it.


I am losing faith in therapy and have only been on it for a month now.


meister
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Breathe through your nose

Post by meister » Wed Apr 04, 2007 8:36 am

For years my nose holes would close up all the time from
allergies. I found myself breathing through my mouth, even
in the daytime. The mouth is not designed as well as the
nose for breathing. Air flowing through the mouth will dry
it out much faster than air flowing through the nose. Moreover,
studies have shown that it is normal for one nostril to close
down (for a short rest), and then open up, with the other
nostril closing down. This repeats throughout the day in
some folks. Many medicines have cotton mouth as a side
affect. In order to get rid of your dry mouth, you need to take
a multifaceted approach. Drink more water! Force yourself
to drink more water. I will routinely drink 20 oz of water right
before I go to bed to prevent dehydration throughout the
night. Increase the air humidity of the room with a vaporizer.
Use a heated humidifier with your machine. Use a heated hose
to get good humidity from the humidifier to your mask. (I very
great investment!). Use a nasal gel to coat the insides of your
nares. Try nasal irrigation to clean out your nasal passage.
Figure out if you have allergies and do whatever it takes to
keep your nose holes open! Some folks do allergy shots, others
use nasal spray prescriptions, some take prescription drugs. I
did all three to keep my nose open. Then figure out how to
keep your mouth closed. Chin strap works for some. Dental
device works for others. A good 2 inch wide tape works great.
If your jaw muscles aren't powerful, then some simple Poligrip
strips between your lips might work. Finally, just because you
wear a full-face mask, it doesn't mean that you won't be actively
breathing through your mouth all night and still drying out. It
takes time, effort, and patience to find a solution. For me, I
really enjoy not getting up all night to pee, and not waking up
all night with cottonmouth!


madmat
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Post by madmat » Fri Apr 06, 2007 7:40 am

no ideas/insight/suggestions on my issue?

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