Need advice on stopping mouth breathing problems

Grimace · Post by **Grimace** » Sun Jul 02, 2006 8:52 pm

Because the huge difference cpap has made for me, I'm trying to get my dad started on it. I'm letting him use my spare machine (apap), and a Flexifit 407 mask. Dad sleeps with his mouth open, and he gets a lot of air leaking out of his mouth, which wakes him up. I'm working on getting a full face mask for him, but I'd like to come up with a quick fix in the mean time. He won't go for mouth taping. Do those chin strap things work? Has anyone come up with an alternative that can be made out of common household items? I'd really appreciate any help on this. Dad has a lot of problems with his blood pressure, and I'm hoping cpap with help with that as well.

vicinsb · Post by **vicinsb** » Sun Jul 02, 2006 9:42 pm

If you don't see what you are looking for...type in mouth breathing in search and it will give you lots to read! Good luck!

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Sun Jul 02, 2006 10:11 pm

FFmasks are taping are the brst options, as long as pressures aren't too high, the F &P 431 seals fair and is comfortable, it comes with 3 gaskets s,m,l. Jim

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Sun Jul 02, 2006 10:31 pm

For something quick that you can get at a pharmacy, you might give the Chin-Up strips a try for your father. They wouldn't be enough for me, but with a little luck, all he might need is keeping his lower lip up.

Household items....hmmmm....well...... he could try a pantyhose leg for a chin strap. Or an Ace bandage.

If you do decide to give a real chinstrap a try (they don't work for me) the ones I've heard the best reports about on message boards have been the Topaz and the Ruby chinstraps, both made by Tiara.

TerryB · Post by **TerryB** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 8:47 am

I picked up a spare "all-purpose support wrap" $4.97 in the WalMart pharmacy yesterday. It is 3 inches wide and 2.3 feet long and streatchy like an Ace bandage but has a velcro hook closure so it has no clips. I wrap it under tension across the point of my jaw and over the back (point LOL) of my head over the mask harness. This keeps the mask more secure for side sleeping and keeps my jaw from dropping open and pulling my lips open the polident strips won't hold up to a full mouth opening so I added the strap to the strips and no major leaks only small mask leaks.

TerryB

Mask