Chin Strap or Full Face Mask

[SnorkelPuss]

Okay, so I'm starting to have issues with mouth breathing. I feel like I'm waking up more often than ever. I have been on CPAP for a about 3-1/2 months now. My AHI is 99% of the time below 2 but was even running below one most of the time until the mouth breathing started. Either way I have had no improvements in the way I feel and now this mouth breathing I think is causing more arousals.

Neither the chin strap or full face mask is appealing to me as one would imagine but which is the less of two evils? I'd appreciate anyone's opinion who is willing to throw in their two cents. Thanks all.

[greatunclebill]

if the mouth is staying closed and the air is coming thru the lips a chin strap likely won't help. if the mouth is coming open and the lips leaking is not a problem a chin strap would help.

[SnorkelPuss]

If I understand you right a chin strap won't help. What happens is my mouth isn't wide open just leaking through the lips. It wakes me up. Is that what you meant that if it is just lip leaking the chin strap won't help?

[Cindy Lou Who]

Snorkelpuss, Have been a hose head nearly 3 years. Asked my Sleep Dr/Neurologist the same question. He advised to use a chin strap. A full face mask has it's own problems and leaks you would have to deal with. If you are not mouth breathing because of sinus problems Dr advised to stick with current mask (Opus 360).
Buying a chin strap is cheaper. That way if it's not the solution, you aren't out much $$$.
To test if one would work I made one out of an ace bandage. Just wrapped it around from crown of head (in front of ears) to under the chin. Some of the windings went 1/2 under the chin and 1/2 over the front of the chin. It cut my really leaky nights in half. So I went out and bought the real thing.
You can also try a boil and bite sports mouth guard. It will protect your teeth from the light pressure of a chin strap and help to hold your tongue in proper position. This combo of chin strap and sport guard cut my leak rate from the 40's down to low 20 cm/min. Others here have had luck with training their tongue to stay against the roof of the mouth and prevent air from leaking into the mouth. I've not had this kind of luck. You can search for their suggestions on how to do this.
Asked about suggestions with hypnosis but didn't get any response. Perhaps you will have more luck if you want to try that.
Wishing you all the best!
Cindy

[LSAT]

With an AHI as low as yours I wouldn't mess with it. Your leaks must be within acceptable range or your AHI would be significantly higher. Many of us would love to have an AHI as low as yours.

[SnorkelPuss]

I know, my ahi is excellent & leaks aren 't bad. Just seems lately that I am waking up a lot more. Last night I felt like I woke up every hour still ended up with ahi 1.1. I've been having migraines and they are not being adequately treated and perhaps medication is interfering. Thanks for ace bandage suggestion. Maybe I will give that a try.

[Guest]

I found that I need a chin strap whether I use my full face mask, my nasal mask or my nasal pillows.

[hopingitworks]

I also have problems with mouth breathing-not every night but enough that it interferes with the PAP therapy. I noticed a video on YouTube that tells how to inexpensively make a chin strap at home. I haven't tried it but may do it at some point.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCchQiwWt0U

[cosmo]

Mouth leaks are way easier to handle than full face mask leaks

Chinstrap works for me to solve mouth leaks.

[LinkC]

Don't mess with success...

[70sSanO]

All I have ever known has been a FFM and I have never had a desire to try a nasal mask or pillows with a chin strap. And the newer FFM masks are a lot more comfortable. I have a Quattro FX so I no longer get those forehead indentations from the mask brace.

I think the bigger question is your lack of quality sleep. I have no idea if you are just not sleeping most of the time and then dose off and wake up or if you fall asleep quickly and then wake up. Either way you are waking up and that is not good. If you can look at your data you may be able to see what is happening. For example if you are getting one or two, but very long apneas, that wake you up the effects may be just as bad as someone who gets 5 or 6 short ones and they wake up. The only difference is that your numbers look great but you feel terrible.

If it looks like the mouth breathing is the culprit, then you should try a FFM mask to see what happens.

John