Dry Mouth

curleycat · Post by **curleycat** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 10:43 am

Can anyone give me tips on how not to get the dry mouth fealing? I had my humidifier on high all night and still woke up with my mouth stuck together. i have so many different mask it is not funny. I can't get a full night sleep. I just dont know how to fix this problem..............

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 11:57 am

Try correcting your mouthbreathing, Taping or a FF mask are the most effective methods. Treatment doesn't start until mouthbreathing is stopped. Jim

pberg3571 · Post by **pberg3571** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 12:04 pm

Try using an ace bandage...wrap over the top of your head, and around under your chin. It doesn't need to be to tight as it is holding your jaw closed. To tight is painfull in the morning on your teeth. This should help keep you mouth closed and air from escaping.

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 2:30 pm

It happens when you unconciously open you mouth when you sleep, and treatment air starts pouring through it into the room.

You have to find a way of avoiding that, and there are basically three ways:

1. Sleep with a full face mask that keeps the air from pouring out to the room - though some mouth breathers still find their mouth dry.
2. Keep your chin from dropping open with some kind of strapping mehcanism (chin strap ace bandage, whatever.
3. Seal your lips together with a tape or poliendt strips, or strap you can manage to wrap around them.

It's not funny at all - it can actually be very painful when your tongue is stuck to the roof of you dry mouth.

I use taping.

O.

curleycat · Post by **curleycat** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 3:17 pm

I had no idea i was breathing through my mouth? I have never used a full face mask but i will get one and give it a try.

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 3:30 pm

Come back and tell us what worked!
Good luck.
O.

cpapexpert · Post by **cpapexpert** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 3:33 pm

Greetings,

Before you go spending all that money on a full face mask, try some of these simple recommendations first. If you are using a nasal mask, get yourself a chinstrap. This will typically do the trick if you think you are doing a lil mouth breathing during the night. If this doesn't help, then try the full face mask.

Some other tips to getting the most out of your heated humidifier. I found that using a Snuggle Hose helps to not only alleviate condensation, but it helps to trap the warmth inside the hose. Increase the temperature in your home a little. If its too cold, even with a Snuggle Hose, condensation can arise in the hose, and a cold draft will still get to the hose.

If you want to try other recommendations as offered above, give them a shot.. A long sock, ace bandage works to help keep the mouth closed, which is why I think you are having dry mouth!

Best of Luck
cpapexpert

krousseau · Post by **krousseau** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 3:55 pm

If you try a chin strap get one that functions like the ace wrap pberg3571 suggested. That is, it provides a fairly strong vertical force (but you can still open your mouth and don't have a sore jaw/teeth in the AM). Avoid any chinstrap that pulls your chin backward as it can cause the jaw to shift backward and obstruct your airway.

TerryB · Post by **TerryB** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 5:12 am

Go to Wal-Mart and find the elastic bandage area near the pharmacy. They carry a bandage with a velcro closure which is about three feet long and three inches wide. The package shows an elbow and a knee as suggested treatment areas. A head will fit too, It will adjust to any tension you need to apply. I also use the Polident strips to keep my lips from flapping too much. otherwise it can be pppphhheeepppppp, pppphhheeeepppp, pppphhhhheeeeepppp all night long.

Good Luck,

TerryB

KimberlyinMN · Post by **KimberlyinMN** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 9:21 am

Also... I found that I had the worst dry mouth when I was wearing the full face mask because my mouth drops open.

I use the Comfortlite 2 nasal interface and my mouth stays shut on its own (but I'm one of the lucky ones).

curleycat · Post by **curleycat** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 5:23 pm

I tried the chin strap i just could not handle it. Today i went to my home care provider and got a full face mask. I hope it works!

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 2:31 am

Hi Leslie!

https://www.cpap.com/aboutUs.php

RipVW · Post by **RipVW** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 2:13 pm

Been dealing with this issue myself, even with my FF mask. Trying a chinstrap for the first time tonight. Hoping that will keep my big mouth shut :<)

curleycat · Post by **curleycat** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 8:39 pm

Hi All
Just stopped by to let you all know the FF mask worked for me WOW i can't believe the difference for the first time in a long time I sleep ALL NIGHT! And i wake up fealing really good. I am so very happy.
Thank you all for the help!!!!!
Barbara Proud mama to a bossy chi!

RipVW · Post by **RipVW** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 1:56 pm

Well, I used a Mirage Swift II nasal interface for the first time last night, AND for the first time in a while had no dry mouth this morning. Hooray!! Now we'll see what happens tonight--I have noticed that the new found benefits of some of my new CPAP interventions seem to change with time. Hoping that's not the case this time!