Higher pressure and dry mouth

[iphonehome]

Doc has raised my air pressure to 10-15 mm. Now, I wake up twice a night with very dry mouth despite a chin strap and double surgical taped mouth. What should I do? Ongoing terrible night's sleep.

[KatieW]

I have dry mouth too, even though my leak rate is zero. I found that when I took Claritin, it was worse. And that Omega 3 supplements, and staying well-hydrated helped. I am now using Biotene Dry Mouth Wash, and that seems to help. If I get up during the night, I do another swish.

I read somewhere that dry mouth can be caused by the tongue blocking the humidified air from the mouth, rather than through mouth leaks, but haven't been able to find that source again.

[Wulfman]

Doc has raised my air pressure to 10-15 mm. Now, I wake up twice a night with very dry mouth despite a chin strap and double surgical taped mouth. What should I do? Ongoing terrible night's sleep.

Do you have diabetes?


Den

[roster]

What was your pressure before and did you have dry mouth then?

Is your current pressure set at range of 10 minimum and 15 max?

[harry33]

higher pressures often evaporate the saliva, a humidifier is the answer if it bothers you

[iphonehome]

higher pressures often evaporate the saliva, a humidifier is the answer if it bothers you

My CPAP comes with an integrated heated humidifier which I have turned up all the way. The CPAP is set for 10 mm minimum and 15 max. Part of the problem may be placement of the machine fairly close to the heat vent for the room. I will add a room humidifier.

[Marietjie]

with very dry mouth

I have dry mouth too,

tongue blocking the humidified air from the mouth

Do you sleep on your back? That is another cause of dry mouth.
Iphonehome - try decreasing the heat bit for bit and see how it goes.
Hope it gets better soon.

[LinkC]

Your humidifier set on High should more than compensate for any reasonable room humidity (or lack).

[DavidMB]

After about 2 weeks, I am getting pretty acclimated to using the Bipap 19/15 ... last night was the best so far, but dry mouth is a problem. The humidifier does not seem to be providing as much humidity as I need. I have been running it on setting of 5, despite warning of the little lady that that highest setting would probably leave me with a wet mouth & wet pockets in the hose. It apparently is humidifying to some degree, but only evidenced over a 6 hour period by depleting the water level in the reservoir from full to ~1/4th level at "wake-up" time. I awakened several times briefly during the night feeling a dry caked mouth & throat, and it took a while this morning to rehydrate ... still felling a slight residual dryness after 4 or so hours.

[roster]

After about 2 weeks, I am getting pretty acclimated to using the Bipap 19/15 ... last night was the best so far, but dry mouth is a problem. The humidifier does not seem to be providing as much humidity as I need. I have been running it on setting of 5, despite warning of the little lady that that highest setting would probably leave me with a wet mouth & wet pockets in the hose. It apparently is humidifying to some degree, but only evidenced over a 6 hour period by depleting the water level in the reservoir from full to ~1/4th level at "wake-up" time. I awakened several times briefly during the night feeling a dry caked mouth & throat, and it took a while this morning to rehydrate ... still felling a slight residual dryness after 4 or so hours.

Are you using a full face mask (Covers nose and mouth) or just a nasal mask?

[BigNortherner]

I wonder if taping the mouth shut is wise. If your nose gets blocked how will you breath?

Certainly you should be using as much humidification as you can (i.e. up to the point where you get condensation in the hose that causes noise or is felt at the interface – you’ll probably have to adjust humifier heating level with atmospheric humidity, unless you get one of the fancier machines that claims to adjust automatically).

[BigNortherner]

The particular user’s experience is odd and interesting.

One thing to make sure of is that nasal passages are clear – sinus drip tends to clog them (even with good sinus health I find some congestion in the morning, which IIRC mouth breathing also leads to).

Note that a nasal interface shifting out of position and blocking nostril(s) as the ComfortCurve is prone to do will also push mouth breathing.

Also, for conventional nose mask I recommend getting a wider size than you may think you need.