Dry Mouth

[SlidellSand]

I've been using CPAP religiously for the past 6 years, and within the last few months, I've been waking up with my mouth so dry that it's like my tongue, etc., are glued together. I really have to work at getting enough saliva to get it unstuck, or I have to drink water. I wake up every couple of hours with the same problem. I didn't use the heat setting on my humidifier for years, but started using it when this dry mouth thing started. If I go above a setting of 2, I get rainout.

My sleep dr. said it's from mouth breathing, but I don't believe her, there's no way I could breath through my mouth when it's all stuck shut; and I don't breathe through my mouth.

Has anyone experienced this and do you have any solutions? Last night I piled up a bunch of pillows and slept sitting up, slept the rest of the night with no problem.

[nanwilson]

Your doctor is right, you have started to mouthbreath. If propping your head up on pillows helped, why don't you raise the head of your bed up by about 4 inches.

[Pugsy]

Most dry mouth is from mouth breathing. Believe your doctor. That said it doesn't take a lot of mouth breathing to dry the mouth out. I have done it myself. I have woke up with mouth open (during the night) and my mouth feels like the desert and when I go look at my reports I don't see one indication of a large leak that one might assume we would have with mouth breathing. So I can only assume that the time spent mouth breathing was minimal but my mouth sure feels like I did.

Other possible causes of dry mouth....inadequate hydration or possible meds because some meds really dry out the mouth like antihistamines or decongestants.

For some people supine sleeping just simply allows the mouth to drop open for a period of time. I imagine propping yourself up on the pillows changed the facial tone to prevent the mouth from flopping open.

[SlidellSand]

Doctor was wrong about mouth breathing. I was pretty sure I WASN'T mouth breathing. So I slept last night with my mouth taped shut, and I had the same dry mouth issue. So dry it felt like I had a mouth full of glue. I'm not taking any medication and I drink a lot of water, so that isn't the cause. If anyone has had this problem and figured it out, please let me know.

[scooter133]

I Clench and 'Suck in' pretty much most of the time. It causes Dry mouth. Its much worse when I sleep. When I do happen to breath through my mouth it is as you describe. I'm not on Med either. I know you said you didn't breath through your mouth, though I though I would offer some of the things I've tried.

Biotene Oral Balance Gel - Apply it at Night before you go to bed.
http://www.amazon.com/Biotene-Oral-Bala ... 003XIXH38/

TheraBreath ZOX Breath Mints - I have one at bed time and I've also popped them in and put between cheek and gum and sleep with it.
http://www.amazon.com/TheraBreath-Breat ... 003H248QK/

Both Biotene and TheraBreath have a Variety of products that help with Dry Mouth.

I just wish I could find out what is causing mine.. )-:

Scott<-

[SlidellSand]

Thanks for your suggestion, Scott. I'll pick some Biotene Gel on the way home and try it tonight.

[Simbot]

I am a mouth breather, and stopped using CPAP due to excessive dry mouth. So dry that it wakes me up at night.

I don't understand the taping of the mouth shut, and use of chinstraps, how am I supposed to breath if my mouth is taped shut? I can't get enough air through just my nose.

[HoseCrusher]

The use of tape and chin straps to keep your mouth closed is for those that use a nasal type mask. If you use a full face mask I believe you can go ahead and open and use your mouth.

If your nose doesn't work, you shouldn't use a nasal mask.

If you are using a full face mask and are experiencing dry mouth try adjusting your humidifier.

[bcelikel]

I have only been using a cpap for 2 weeks but have experienced dry mouth. I was told to turn the humidifier up. My pressure is 14. I kept turning up the humidifier and now have relief at a level 4. You might try a higher humidifier level. I don't believe I am a mouth breather.

[Simbot]

Thanks,

If it was that easy, I wouldn't be looking for advice here. I do thank you though.

I have a full face mask

The humidifer is cranked all the way up. This causes water droplets to form on my face and makes me itch, have to remove the mask to scratch/wipe, so annoying.

I also use an in-room humidifier. Still get cotton mouth every night, wakes me up.

[HoseCrusher]

I always find it best to start with the basics and go on from there.

More questions...

Do you smoke?
Are you well hydrated?
Do you drink alcohol?
Do you drink fluids containing caffeine?
Do you take any medications that list dry mouth as an adverse effect?
Do you have diabetes?
Are you undergoing chemo or radiation?
Have you suffered neck or head damage?
Do you eat spicy foods?

I will assume that none of these apply either.

Do you sleep on your back?
Have you checked your oxygen levels while sleeping?

OK, enough questions. So what can you do...

I believe there are some mouth rinses that can help.

Another option is to talk with your doctor to see what it would take to get your nasal passages opened up. The nose strips may help, but that depends upon what is blocking the passages.

Crank your humidifier down to the point where it is no longer depositing water in your mask.

Going out on a limb here, you may try adding a very small amount of sea salt to your humidifier water. This is risky for your machine. Water is bad for it, if you happen to tip it over, but salt water is worse. If you want to try this take a 1 liter bottle and put 0.2 grams of salt into it. Use that water in your humidifier. The idea is that the salt ions may help soothe your dry mouth.

Oops, another question...

When you sleep without the machine do you also end up with dry mouth?

If not, you may be able to adjust the pressure of your machine to minimize it by reviewing your data over a period of a week or two.

After pondering all of this, keep talking. We should be able to come up with something that will help.

[Simbot]

Thanks Hosecrusher!

Answers to all of your questions are no, except: I drink one cup of coffee in the morning. I eat a lot of spicy foods. I am pretty healthy overall. I'm pretty well hydrated.

I always sleep on my sides. I don't know how to check my oxygen levels. My AHI is usually around 10-12. What does "periodic breathing" mean?

Where do I get the software so I can review my data?

I do not have dry mouth without the machine. I've been told by a Dr. years ago that I have narrow/small nasal passages.

Sleep study said I should run the pressure at 15, but there's no way I can make that work. Highest I can set it is 10 without it leaking like crazy. I spent months trying to control the leaks, nothing worked with pressure that high. Not to mention the pressure alone keeps me awake. It's like sticking your head out the car window at 70mph.

This site depresses me, it seems everyone can make CPAP work for them, except for a few newbies. I currently think there is just no way it's ever going to work for me. I've been trying for about a year.

Leaks wake me up, dry mouth wakes me up, high pressure wakes me up, itchy face wakes me up. With all of these things waking me up every night I wasn't able to get solid sleep. My AHI may be low for an hour or two, but other issues waking me up multiple times a night, negates any improvement in AHI I may be getting for short periods.

I stopped using it for a couple months, but am back to giving it another try. I've been using an oral appliance for about 6 weeks, not sure if its working or not. So I'm trying a hybrid approach. But the CPAP always seems to make it worse because it wakes me up, for numerous reasons. I've always been a light sleeper, so I don't know if I'll ever be able to sleep with it on. But I don't know if I should give up yet either.

There is so much information here I don't know what to do with it all. Many things are disscussed that I don't even understand what people are talking about. Everyone seems "in the know" I stopped reading this site because it just depressed me.

OK I'll stop whining now....

I'll give it another shot, thanks for your help.

[sleepycarol]

Do you have a hose cover on your hose? That might help with the rainout (the water that condenses in your hose and then "drowns you".

There are heated hosed that will help with rainout. Many have used the Aussie hose -- but it is expensive and comes from Australia. https://www.cpap.com has a heated hose that is under a $100.00. The same hose is listed on eBay as well -- but at or above the price cpap.com is asking. Others have made their own heated hose using a Reptile cord meant for use in a reptile cage and would it around their hose. Personally, I have not tried a heated hose so can't give any information other than what I have read on the forum.

Don't be depressed, many are struggling with the same issues you have.

Since you have the PR1 system does it have the setting where it tracks the ambient air (suppose to help with the rainout as well)? I typically do not use a humidifier or have it set in passive over mode. I have changed one of the meds I take it and it leaves me with a dry mouth. I have been experimenting with that setting and it seems to help my dry mouth at night.

Good luck, don't give up, keep posting we should be able to find a solution for you.

[Simbot]

Thanks

I don't think it measures the ambient air. I have the REMstar auto 550. Do not have a heated hose. Since I live in California, it doesn't get that cold at night, when it is cold we always have the heater on, the room temp is never below about 65F.

Not sure if the humidifier is working right. I don't remember always having excessive drymouth. With the humidifier at 5 (max'ed out) I use about 1/4 of the water in the humidifer. This is with it running all night, around 7 hours. Does that seem right? I think I've read that some people use all the water in one night. I can go about 3-4 nights without refilling. Seems like when I first started using this thing I had to re-fill every day, but I can't remember.

[HoseCrusher]

OK.

You are turning out to be a "tough nut to crack." We will just keep chipping away at the problem and eventually a solution will surface.

First a review of the positive aspects so far...

At least you are waking up... The alternative is far worse.

My approach often involves thinking "outside the box," so bear with me.

Take some time and answer these questions.

What do you expect from xPAP equipment and therapy?

If you had the software to review your data, what would you be looking for?

What is "special" about your equipment and anatomy that allows you to complain about leaks when others are stuck with a reasonably good seal?

What do you expect from a good nights sleep?

That's enough for now. You don't have to answer these questions out loud, so to speak, but ponder them as we go through this.

I already know that after a year of problems you are still willing to work on this, so there is no lack of determination. Often progress is made over a series of small steps. The purpose of the questions is to help you focus on recognizing the small steps of progress. The big leaps are usually easily recognized, but the small steps can get lost in the clutter.

I believe Pugsy has a link to the software needed to review your data, or knows where it is available. If you have an owners manual it would be good to review the various features of your machine paying particular attention to some of the bells and whistles that are designed for your comfort.

I am guessing here, but part of your issues may have to do with having something foreign on your face. One way to desensitize yourself is to put something on your face more often. After a few days of this, having something on your face may seem a little less obnoxious.

When is the last time you painted your house?

Go to the hardware store and pick up some particle masks that painters use. When you get home from work, put a mask on and wear it. It is a shame to just wear it, so you may want to paint that room you have been putting off for awhile... This will help you get a little use to having something on your face.

After a few days of this, and after you have finished your painting..., you can then grab your xPAP mask and practice wearing it while you are awake. Make sure you aren't "re breathing" air by leaving the hose attached. The idea is to go about your evening routine with a mask on your face.

By now you may find yourself looking forward to having something hanging on your face...

Or not... But it may get you to a point where it doesn't wake you up.

Everyone has to pay attention to leaks. We all have our little fixes that allow us to deal with leaks as they occur during the night. One way to address leaks is to put on the mask, turn the machine on, and relax in a chair or on the sofa while reading a book or watching a movie. If you really get sucked into the drama, your face will relax and you will have the opportunity to adjust your mask to eliminate leaks while the tone of your face changes. You may also fall asleep and get a few hours of absolutely wonderful sleep.

There is a lot of trial and error involved with all of this. Keep at it. Remember that snug is good, but tighter is not necessarily better. Most masks have multiple adjustment points. Small adjustment changes spread out are better than just grabbing a strap and cinching down on it.

That should get you started.

Now I am going to scold you, a little. Never feel depressed because others may have more knowledge than you do. Look at this as an opportunity to learn. The only stupid question is the question that is never asked. The only reason we know a little more than you do is because we screwed up and found a way to work through it. Actually, maybe you should be depressed. You are asking help and wanting to learn from a bunch of screw ups...