Cotton Mouth Survey - Mouth Leaks

[SleepGuy]

I would really appreciate feedback to give me some idea what percentage of all xPAP patients may experience mouth leaking and how often.

This is part of my efforts to get the PAP-Cap into mass distribution. My hope is to help get new patients set up with the tools they need right up front in order to increase the likelihood that they will have a good xPAP experience during the first few nights. Most of us as new patients are not told about mouth leaking at all, don't know what it is, or what to do about it. Wouldn't it have been nice for the RT to send you home with some basic awareness training and a solution in-hand?

Thanks!

[Muse-Inc]

Started CPAP aug '07 with a pillow mask. Feb '09 started backsliding into apnea, tho at the time I was experiencing serious drug side effects and blamed my symptoms on that as I was clueless about apnea. Up to then, I was a mask on, machine on, sleep sort of hosehead using a data-less CPAP and slowly recovering. Finally found this place in May and wow, got my eyes opened, learned I was losing therapy air via loose lips (no mouth drop), just little puffs of that oh so critical air being lost. Sleep doc confirmed mouth leaking with 5 nights on a loaner APAP and recording oximeter and that I was noticeably thinner thru face and throat; doc had another patient who'd also lost about 50#s and was experiencing what I was, namely, losing that velolingual seal in the back of the mouth-throat. We talked masks and I decided the Hybrid was the way to go and doc approved that decision as he likes that mask.

Sure wish I'd been given a handout of things to watch out for or challenges that might occur with suggestions...a list of online support groups woulda helped as would a local support group...a pointer to here woulda been ideal!!!

[DaveMunson]

None of the above. I use to mouth breath and helped myself by taping (duct tape). After a couple months, all of a sudden, I knew I did not have to tape anymore and stopped. Now, rarely, I still mouth breath, say none to once or twice a month. If I do it is caused by something external like exhaustion, flu or the ilk.

[sleepycarol]

Dave how did you stand to remove the duct tape? It seems that would be extremely hard on the skin.

[goose]

I taught myself not to breathe through my mouth.
I used to, but before I got my machine and mask I'd read enough here at cpaptalk.com to know that I had to do something about mouth breathing. Having facial hair, I didn't think that a FF mask was my best option for no leaks.
I know from reading here that mouth breathing is a serious issue with many OSA sufferers. Some tape. Some use poli-grip. Some use chinstraps in various shapes, sizes, or configurations.
I use my PAP-Cap in lieu of my headgear quite often and I do note that it does the best job of holding the lower jaw in place without distortion (moving it forward or backward) to prevent mouth breathing of any strap that I've tried.

cheers
goose

[Komodo]

I use a Comfortgel Nasal, and wake up most days with cotton mouth.
Keeping my mouth closed all night, is NOT an option for me.

I have COPD, and have several coughing fits every night. Any device intended to keep my mouth closed, would have to have enough "give" for me to comfortably open my mouth when needed, and then close it again.

[WearyOne]

I wear a FF mask (Hybrid) AND have cotton/dry mouth almost every morning. Not "leaking" through my mouth since I have a FF, but I do have my mouth open a lot when asleep so still get that dry mouth.

[RipVW]

Used to have SEVERE dry mouth, even/especially with my FFM. No more, thank goodness!

[SleepGuy]

Thanks to all--this is very helpful.

I should have focused on dry mouth from FFM (this same thing has happened to me) as opposed to cotton mouth from mouth leaks using a nasal mask.

[more cotton mouth]

I've got severe cotton mouth (wakes me up 3 times per night) and no leakage that I can detect. I've woken up occasionally with my cheeks inflated like Dizzie Gillespie but my mouth sealed. Gotta drink to get back to sleep. Don't know most of the acronyms here so if anyone knows what's going on with me and can recommend a solution (I've tried both nasal and full face masks) I'd appreciate it. Thanks.

[SleepGuy]

I've got severe cotton mouth (wakes me up 3 times per night) and no leakage that I can detect. I've woken up occasionally with my cheeks inflated like Dizzie Gillespie but my mouth sealed. Gotta drink to get back to sleep. Don't know most of the acronyms here so if anyone knows what's going on with me and can recommend a solution (I've tried both nasal and full face masks) I'd appreciate it. Thanks.

This means that your CPAP air pressure that is supposed to be holding your throat open is actually just escaping back through your mouth.

It's called "mouth leaking" or "mouth breathing." It's probably the most common problem for people who try to use their CPAP equipment.

It means that while you are mouth leaking, your CPAP is not being effective to treat your sleep apnea.

Many people use a full face mask but as you note they make your mouth dry, leak, and "blow out" your cheeks with air pressure. Chinstraps are another "solution" but in my experience don't work well. I am the inventor of the PAP-Cap cotton chinstrap and this poll is trying to gather information that I would like to see so I can work with medical providers to get more effective help to people like you--

Thanks for participating in this poll / thread.

SG

[JoyD.]

.
Providing a solution to mouth leaks during those early months when the person new to CPAP has to deal with so many issues at once . . . would be so valuable!

Although my early solution was taping my mouth, after several months I quit using tape because I kept removing it during the night. I began focusing on tongue placement on the roof of my mouth behind my teeth . . . and found that I began to acclimatize to keeping my mouth shut during the night, even with a pressure of 14. Now, leaking is no longer a problem. I check periodically via my software to be sure that I am not having mouth leaks. My AHI has continued to stay low.

Rested Gal got me started with her "tongue placement techniques". Here is a thread where Goose & Dreamstalker comment on "mouth training" working for them:
viewtopic/t48775/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=47 ... ue#p435896

In addition to focusing on how I placed my tongue, I was fortunate to already use a bite guard that my dentist had made so I wouldn't grind my teeth. I've found that I naturally bite down on the bite guard, and I believe that may also help keep my mouth shut (even though I still had mouth leaks the first few months).

So, just because you have a problem with mouth leaks during the first several months does not mean that it will, or must, necessarily continue. Eventually, It might be worth trying to "train yourself to place your tongue properly" as in Rested Gal's method. And, if you already have a dental bite guard made by your dentist, to begin using it routinely if you are not already doing so.

TIME and ACCLIMATIZATION SEEM TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE as well for some, but certainly not all people, with regard to the problem of mouth leaks.

Joy

PS - Rested Gal, do you have any links to your "tongue placement technique" ?