Poligrip strips frustration!! Please help!

margaritagurl70 · Post by **margaritagurl70** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 10:53 pm

I am a mouth breather and have followed many of the suggestions posted on here. Taping wasn't good because I have sensitive skin and the tape left marks across my mouth and lips that lasted all day long. So, I have been using the Poligrip strips. Again, have been trying many of the suggestions on how to wet them, apply them etc. Using the suggestions I have been successful creating a seal (thanks for all the help!!). However, I wake up after 3-5 hours with the strips dried up and my mouth open. The sound of the air coming out of my mouth wakes me and then I realize the strips are dried up. Last night I woke up with most of strips off of my lips and stuck behind my top front teeth. Not sure how that happened. Anybody have anymore ideas or suggestions? What about using the Poligrip gel?

Again, thanks to all for your posts, suggestions etc. I have found this forum to be extremely helpful in many ways.

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 12:28 am

Personally, I think you are just going to continue to frustrate yourself attempting to use denture adhesive strips to seal your mouth.

Your best bet may be to just bite the bullet and get a full face mask.

TerryB · Post by **TerryB** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 5:30 am

I have seen a difference in the dryness of the strips depending on how far into or out of the mouth they are placed to start. I'd say experiment with placing them carefully on your bottom lip so they're not too dry , not too moist, but just right.

Good Luck,
TerryB

PS, I've tried the paste a couple times, but it is really messy compared to the strips, but it does work.

bdp522 · Post by **bdp522** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 7:15 am

The only tape I can use is the Kendalls tender skin paper tape. Any other tape leaves huge marks. You might want to try a roll of this and see how it works for you.

Brenda

JeffH · Post by **JeffH** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 8:25 am

You might start wearing an anti-blowfish strap around your mouth. I do that and have no problems with the polident strips.

Get an old headband, cut it, add velco to both ends and you have an adjustable strap that goes across your mouth to prevent the blowfish effect that sometimes happens when trying to keep your mouth closed. Sounds to me like that is what is happening to you and the blow fish is winning.

JeffH

echo · Post by **echo** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 8:44 am

I also could never get the polident strips to work for me. never tried the get.

As far as the tape goes, I've been using the 3M surgical micropore tape.. I was also getting lines on my face when I took off the tape, but I've started using body lotion in the mornings to soak the tape for a few minutes, and then it comes off easily without leaving marks. Unless you're getting marks due to an allergic reaction, then the lotion trick might work for you.
For me, runny lotion seems to work better than thicker lotion. Also sometimes a few minutes is not enough and I have to let it soak a bit longer, like 5 min. Just make sure you lather it in good I think it eats the adhesive somehow..!

NeedinZs · Post by **NeedinZs** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 9:14 am

The only thing I could add to this is.....

along the lines of what TerryB said.

I recently had this happen a couple of nights after a month of complete success with the poligrip strips.
Try putting them closer to the inside of your lips where your mouth will keep them moister. I think if they are hanging out of your mouth a little too far, the dry air, or CPAP exhaust air might tend to dry them out.

Hope that makes sense.

Good luck. Give it a few more tries at trying to keep them moist.
Start out with them pretty wet to get a good gel going.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 1:30 pm

Thank you all for the suggestions!! I will try them. I have been thinking I might need to get a full face mask but am trying to avoid that. I like the mask I have with the exception of the mouth breathing problem. I will try these suggestions first. If you have anymore please keep them coming.

RosemaryB · Post by **RosemaryB** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 9:41 pm

JeffH wrote:You might start wearing an anti-blowfish strap around your mouth. I do that and have no problems with the polident strips.

Get an old headband, cut it, add velco to both ends and you have an adjustable strap that goes across your mouth to prevent the blowfish effect that sometimes happens when trying to keep your mouth closed. Sounds to me like that is what is happening to you and the blow fish is winning.

JeffH

Jeff is right on with this one! It's the only way I've found to consistently keep the leaks down. (Thanks, Jeff). Currently I alternate between the poligrip strips and the tape, which sometimes irritates my skin. The type of tape is important.

However, I can't use the headband strap because it leaves bad red marks that last all day and in my job that would be a problem. Instead I use Johnson & Johnson First Aid Hurt-Free Tape, 2-Inch. It's kind of stretchy and latex free. It doesn't stick to your skin, but to itself. It's kind of like an Ace bandage, but no latex and lighter weight. In the summer it's lightweight and cooler than anything else I've tried. It sticks to itself. I just wear it around my mouth like Jeff did with his headband. It ties in the back and doesn't leave a huge knot. I do have to use a new one after a while, like maybe once a week. With a nasal pillows mask, my leak line is nice and straight using this system. Otherwise I blow through the tape or Poligrip many nights and get leaks and other problems like you are describing.

I also cut the Poligrip strip lengthwise and then make a few small nicks in one side so it will curve to conform with my lips. I use two lengths and they overlap somewhat. I wet my bottom lip before laying the strips on it. then wet my top lip before closing my mouth. It takes some experimenting to get it just right for you. But I'm pretty happy with the current system.

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linda3777 · Post by **linda3777** » Fri Nov 09, 2007 11:31 am

I too use the medical paper tape instead of regular medical tape to tape my mouth shut. I have found a great tip is this: Right before putting the tape on your mouth, press it against your leg or sheet or something to take some more adhesive off it. It still sticks great and doesn't rip your skin the next morning. I also put a small amount of lip balm on my lower lip before putting on the tape, it not only moisturizers all night long but prevents the tape from sticking to my lips too much.

neverbetter · Post by **neverbetter** » Fri Nov 09, 2007 12:46 pm

Have you tried a good chinstrap along with the tape or poli grip strips?

Have you tried something called the Hybrid with the chin flap?
It gently helps you learn to sleep with your mouth closed but will act like a full face mask if you still want to open it at times.

It's Poli Grip sticky strips , not the goo

Mask

Additional Comments: Equipment isn't correct, S9 ASV w/H5i