Dry Mouth

[Stormy]

Just a few weeks ago I've started to experience dry mouth. I wake with the insides of my mouth stuck together. Anyone have similar problems, and how did you deal with it?

[Ogeo]

What kind of mask do you use? Full face, nose or pillows? I have tried several and battle at times with dry mouth. One thing I do is to keep a cup with a straw handy to get water in my mouth. It is a weird feeling when you can't even open your mouth but I can usually get an opening that the straw goes into and then when I get water, it solves the temporary problem. For determining what might be the cause we need more information.

Also if you would fill out your profile, others will see your equipment, mask, etc and can help you easier. To do it, click on "User Control Panel" toward the top left side, then choose the tab, "profile" and edit your equipment. Choose the text format to display it and it is easier for others to see.

[Wulfman...]

Just a few weeks ago I've started to experience dry mouth. I wake with the insides of my mouth stuck together. Anyone have similar problems, and how did you deal with it?

Yes, many people. You need to stop mouth-breathing (or mouth-leaking your therapy air).

Some medications or medical conditions can cause it but the most common culprit is mouth-breathing. Even is a person is using a full face mask.

Too much heated humidity can cause nasal congestion. So, if you're using a high HH setting, try turning it down or off.
Nasal cleansing before bedtime usually helps, too. You need to make sure you can breathe through your nose before you mask up.


Den

.

[AlabamaAl]

I too suffered from dry mouth when starting therapy. I tryed Biotin spray, mouth guards, etc, but recently got some relief when jacking up the humidity to 4, and installing a heated hose option (thanks Pugsy) and setting this on 2.

It may not work for you, but it sure helped me.

[Pualani]

Been there. Going to nasal pillows helped me. Additionally I wear a mouthguard. Learning to keep my tongue on the roof of my mouth and my lips together helps but still occasionally I get dry mouth.

[Luthie2006]

I must be a mouth breathing as well. I use an AIRFIT P10 with chin strap, but when I get up in the morning, my mouth is stuck together too. However, my numbers look good, so I am not all that concerned. What is your AHI? Isn't this all based on the AHI in the morning?

[bwexler]

I must be a mouth breathing as well. I use an AIRFIT P10 with chin strap, but when I get up in the morning, my mouth is stuck together too. However, my numbers look good, so I am not all that concerned. What is your AHI? Isn't this all based on the AHI in the morning?

No.
Dry mouth is more of an isue with leaks, especialy out of your mouth.

[AlabamaAl]

I must be a mouth breathing as well. I use an AIRFIT P10 with chin strap, but when I get up in the morning, my mouth is stuck together too. However, my numbers look good, so I am not all that concerned. What is your AHI? Isn't this all based on the AHI in the morning?

for me it is an issue of comfort, and quality sleep. If you feel like your tonsils are playing with camels every time you awaken, it is hard to fall back asleep quickly...

[Sir NoddinOff]

I use this Orajel Dry mouth moisturizer every night and like it:

http://www.amazon.com/ORAJEL-MOUTH-3228 ... B004LTZVO6

BTW, it seems expensive but that isn't a bad price for three tubes. Also, for me, it keeps my mouth moist all night. One tube lasts me for almost a month.

[library lady]

In spite of using heated hose and humidification with a FF mask, I experienced many nights of extremely dry mouth in my first months. I found a drinking cup with a cover and a straw, filled it half full of water and put it on a small stool a few steps from the bed. If I woke up in the night with everything stuck together in my mouth, I would get up and take a couple small sips of water. With the quick-connector on my mask, I could pop the hose off the mask and drink through the straw... it was easy to do because my mouth is right in line with the connector, but for people who don't have that advantage I suggest using an ordinary flexible straw instead. After a few months, I didn't need as much water; whether that was because I'd gotten used to the dry mouth or that I'd learned not to breathe with my mouth. I suspect it was a combination of the two. I do still experience dry mouth, but for some reason it is not as severe as it was in the beginning, and these days I usually forget to put water out.

The reason I took just a couple small sips and swished the water around in my mouth before swallowing was to avoid creating a need to use the bathroom during the night.