Mouth breathers able to successfully change to nasal masks?

pjwalman · Post by **pjwalman** » Thu Jun 12, 2008 7:03 pm

I am wondering if anyone that always considered themselves a mouth breather has successfully moved to a nasal mask. I am getting disgusted with the full face masks and wonder if I could possibly move to a nasal prong style mask (can't stand the nasal pillows on the Hybrid, so I'm thinking they are ruled out for me) and not suffocate myself. Not being dramatic here. I'm a mouth breather because I am congested nightly. I find I'm breathing more through my nose with CPAP than I ever remember being able to before, so is there a chance I could succeed? If you are so congested you literally can't draw air through your nose, will CPAP blast it through there anyway? I don't think I can handle taping -- too reminiscent of an ugly situation in my younger years -- but maybe I could handle the chinstrap. I don't know. I have a screwed-up jaw from bad orthodontia. Do the chinstraps mess with your jaw?

Sorry if the questions are stupid. If my fantasy of being able to succeed with a nasal mask is just that -- a fantasy -- I want to know before I shell out more money for the mask.

Any input would be appreciated!

Thank you!

Peggy

Needsdecaf · Post by **Needsdecaf** » Thu Jun 12, 2008 7:14 pm

There's always a chance.

However, I'm a pretty decent nose breather. But I can't do a nasal pillows mask without taping.

NeedinZs · Post by **NeedinZs** » Thu Jun 12, 2008 7:17 pm

I, too am a mouth breather, lots of dryness and congestion, and deviated septum, but not as bad as some. I was determined NOT to wear a FF mask.

The air pressure through my nose seems to allow me to breathe better thru my nose actually, and I found myself not mouth breathing during the day anymore.
I think after a while, you train yourself out of habit.

I don't think I could use a chin strap, like yourself, I have jaw issues.

I know you said were against taping, but would poli-grip strips feel as bad to you? That is what I have had the best luck with.

Everybody's different, but I think I'd give it a try.

Good luck!

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Thu Jun 12, 2008 8:11 pm

I used a ComfortFull when I started because I knew I was mouthbreathing. I have taught myself to lock my tongue to the forward roof of my mouth, by practice, and now successfully use a ComfortGel nasal mask.

I have the software and machine to monitor my treatment, if it wasn't working, I would go back to the ComfortFull, in a heartbeat. More treatment failures are caused be nasal masks than any other problem except for De-Nile. Jim

I also use OTC decongestant meds before bed, starting 2 hours before bed.

Bonnie · Post by **Bonnie** » Thu Jun 12, 2008 8:48 pm

I was a mouth breather all my life. I, like Goofproof, taught myself to keep my tongue forward & up on the roof of my mouth and have used the Swift with great success. I have the Hybrid and Ultra Mirage for back up if I get a cold. Neither has never been used. I've had a few colds and my pressure of 10.5 blows enough air to keep the congestion minimal.

You should give it a try,
Good luck

pjwalman · Post by **pjwalman** » Thu Jun 12, 2008 9:06 pm

So the idea of the tongue forward and on the roof of the mouth is to prevent air escaping even if your mouth falls open by habit? If you do open your mouth and let air escape, does your mouth honk at you the way a mask does when it leaks? Other than software letting you know (which I have and fully intend to continue to use), how would you know if you were leaking through your mouth? Is it an obvious feeling that wakes you up?

And is there anyone who uses a mask with nasal prongs? If you could share with me the name of the mask, I'd appreciate it. I think the ones that are just like a full face mask but shorter, just around the nose, would probably defeat me the same as the full masks. Do they fart when losing the seal and leak around the eyes in the same way? Seems like they're just an abbreviated version of a full face mask, from what I can see, but I'm happy to be corrected.

Thanks, guys! I appreciate the input!

Peggy

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Jun 12, 2008 9:17 pm

Goofproof wrote:I used a ComfortFull when I started because I knew I was mouthbreathing. I have taught myself to lock my tongue to the forward roof of my mouth, by practice, and now successfully use a ComfortGel nasal mask.

I.

I use the Breeze with pillows but locking the tongue forward is the exact method I use.

dewey.bertolini · Post by **dewey.bertolini** » Thu Jun 12, 2008 9:20 pm

Hi Peggy.

I use the headrest -- https://www.cpap.com/productpage/aeiome ... rface.html -- couldn't live without it. I solved the mouth breathing problem by tying an ace bandage over my mouth. Works like a charm for me.

All the best!

6PtStar · Post by **6PtStar** » Thu Jun 12, 2008 9:23 pm

pjwalman wrote:And is there anyone who uses a mask with nasal prongs? If you could share with me the name of the mask, I'd appreciate it

The best nasal prong mask is the Nasal Aire II, IMHO. Look up one of Babette's posts and look at her tip sheet. Has more information than you ever wanted to know about the Nasal Aire II. I love it, it is so unatrusive. It does take a while for most people to get used to and most have a little soreness in the nares but if you will stick with it, it will be worth it. Babette also has one going around for people to try before buying. You can contact her if you would like to get on her list.

Jerry

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Thu Jun 12, 2008 9:42 pm

pjwalman wrote:So the idea of the tongue forward and on the roof of the mouth is to prevent air escaping even if your mouth falls open by habit? If you do open your mouth and let air escape, does your mouth honk at you the way a mask does when it leaks? Other than software letting you know (which I have and fully intend to continue to use), how would you know if you were leaking through your mouth? Is it an obvious feeling that wakes you up?

With my tongue forward and on the roof of the mouth, I can open my mouth without air rushing out, I can even drink water through a straw.

I will say I still have some mouthleaks maybe, my avg leak graph isn't what I want some nights, but I never have a large leak, and my leak rate doesn't go over 20% more than the mask vent rate and then not for over 15 minutes at a time.

Sure if I taped, the leak rate would be better, but I avg AHI under 1 most nights. If it was over AHI 3, most nights, I'd make changes in what I do. If my AHI is over 2, it usually means I messed up timing my OTC meds, and had trouble breathing. I have been sleeping restless lately, but I am dreaming quite a bit, mostly about the days when worked, I am used to fixing problems while I sleep. That's a part of life I now miss, come to think of it I now miss most of life. Getting old isn't your friend. Jim

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ozij · Post by **ozij** » Thu Jun 12, 2008 9:48 pm

I'm a nose breather when awake - but my mouth drops open when I sleep, and I havent figured out why or when. Some nights my mouth will be closed all night, others.....

Others - if I don't tape - I'll wake up because the rushing air had dried out my mouth, leaving my tongue literally - and very painfully - stuck to the roof of my mouth. I live in a very dry climate - but my pressure is low - higher pressure would make it that much worse... The only thing I've managed to train myself to do (partially at that) is not to move my tongue to I get water in my mouth.

Chin straps do mess with your jaw....

Nasal pillows take getting used to - and maybe the Liberty's would be better for you?

The Breeze has a kind of dilator (prongs) pillow too.

O.

tildafish · Post by **tildafish** » Fri Jun 13, 2008 12:04 am

I use the Breeze, and without it, I would be a CPAP failure. I cannot bear the air hitting my skin from a mask, and after only 3 hrs with a mask on, my face was red, swollen and prickling and the prickling lasted for two days straight. My RT said she has seen several other cases like mine, and all of us are diagnosed with fibromyalgia.

I'd been told that a mouth breather like me, with a deviated septum and TMJ could never use nasal pillows, but from the first night, I was able to be 100% compliant. My AHI has never been higher than 2.2 with my chin strap, and it does not bother my jaw.

I have tried other chin straps that made my ears hurt, but the respironics one that I use does not. My only complaint about chin straps is what it does to my hairstyle! Also, they do not air dry fast enough, so I have to have two, so I can rotate them, and they do wear out, so I need a new one about every three months.

However, I've also had 3 sessions of cranial sacral therapy, which eliminated the need for a night time mouth appliance long ago, so I had not had any problems with TMJ for almost a decade before starting CPAP.

I naturally put my tongue forward when wearing the chin strap. I do find the nasal pillows open my nose up when congested.

I also got a great tip here when I first started, and that was to use one size larger in nasal pillows than what was prescribed for me. This makes the pillows feel just like natural breathing, with no sensation of air rushing into my nose, and I actually forget there is anything in my nose.

Good luck,
tildafish

Mouth breathers able to successfully change to nasal masks?

Mouth breathers able to successfully change to nasal masks?

Nasal pillows and mouth breathing